Heart of the Beast review: Tear-jerking tale of man-dog friendship
I was unsure what to expect from Heart of the Beast due to director David Ayer, who doesn’t have the strongest filmography. However, I’ve just discovered my favourite Ayer film.
This survival thriller follows retired Special Forces officer James (Brad Pitt) and his retired combat dog Odin after their seaplane crashes in the Alaskan wilderness, many miles from civilisation. Not only do they have to battle their injuries, the cold temperatures and the treacherous landscape, but also dangerous animals like bears and wolves.
Heart of the Beast is not the first film to depict people fighting for survival after a plane crash in the middle of nowhere. It is also not the first film to depict the bond between man and dog. But who cares? This film combines these two themes beautifully, and I absolutely adored their friendship. They have been by each other’s side through the best and worst of times and know each other so well that they can almost telepathically know what the other is thinking.
The film is quite quiet at first and takes a while to get going as there’s no need for conversation, and we just observe their way of life, going from remote place to remote place, pitching a tent and living off the land for a few days. But Pitt is a captivating actor, and the dog is an emotive beauty, so you’re never bored. The action kicks in with the plane crash, after which the survival thriller begins. James may be resourceful and well-equipped for wild living, but he meets his match with this dangerous terrain. He really gets put through the wringer!
I have to give shout-outs to cinematographer Mauro Fiore for crafting stunning shots of the wilderness (it was filmed in New Zealand) and composer Jared Michael Fry for his score, which made an emotional moment even more affecting. Bring tissues, people! It doesn’t take much for me to care about a dog in a film, but Odin is a really great dog actor – give that good boy an award!
Heart of the Beast is a moving tale of the beautiful bond between man and dog. It really hit me in the feels.
In cinemas now