The Dog Stars Review
Ridley Scott isn’t backing down from trying something new and The Dog Stars provides that avenue for the acclaimed filmmaker. I didn’t know much of The Dog Stars outside of a few advertisements I’ve seen, but surprisingly, it ends up being much more satisfying than most think. Taking place after a worldwide disease wipes out most of humanity, The Dog Stars follows Hig (Jacob Elordi) as he makes the most of his isolated peace. Living with him is Bangley (Josh Brolin), a tough and rough caretaker who believes they have everything they need. However, Hig wishes to find a paradise within this dystopian wasteland, hardened by the enduring memories of his wife. Hig’s journey leads him to encounter unfriendly faces, dangerous scavengers, and potential allies to help him accomplish his goals.
From a visual standpoint, Scott is clearly going on autopilot with the expansive landscapes, high-flying plane shots, and much more. It very much feels like the aesthetics of The Dog Stars are derived from post-apocalyptic games like The Last of Us and even Fallout. Whether that be a small Mennonite community, an overgrown metropolitan city, or a retrofuturistic airport, each set naturally fits into the larger scheme that Scott wants to emphasize. However, it’s when Hig goes back and forth from his old house that’s somehow still standing that makes you realize that, despite all the world’s changes, it’s impossible to let go. Although everything is overrun by violent tribals and the surrounding forests hide horse-riding raiders, Hig’s old house is an intricate time capsule of the “before” in a way that’s kind of bittersweet. It’s these little elements that Scott utilizes to carefully build the world that Hig tries to survive in.
Furthermore, how Scott and writer Mark L. Smith adapt the characters of The Dog Stars leads to certain performances standing out. Elordi’s take on Hig presents a rugged edge that never lets his hope run out as Elordi shows Hig’s deep connection to his dog, Jasper, with such potency. When Elordi shares the screen with Brolin’s Bangley, it’s pretty hard to not enjoy more of Brolin’s innately empathetic performance underneath that rough exterior. Although Bangley is dedicated to keeping his lifestyle the way it is, Brolin does a good job in carefully peeling back Bangley’s appreciation for Hig’s dedication. Plus, the way Bangley’s “old man”-isms show out when needed to lead to some back-and-forths that get a good laugh.
Margaret Qualley’s Cima also has some touching moments with Hig as she tries to help Hig out despite her Pops’ (Guy Pearce) fear of outsiders causing chaos. The campfire scenes that Hig and Cima share together add that sweetness as they revel in the things that they do miss in life, even if the dialogue is delivered in a way that feels stilted. Particularly, there’s one nightly scene that might have felt too melodramatic when both of them share their emotions since the time they spend reflecting on that is limited. Surprisingly, Brolin and Pearce are the highlights of this film, but Elordi and Qualley’s on-screen chemistry works well for this film. Despite both Brolin and Pearce’s characters being stuck in their old ways, the way they present their hesitations with their own close-mindedness makes those interactions more fun.
The only thing that seems to hold The Dog Stars back is its story, which goes in many different directions. At the start, Scott seems to know the emotional impact that Hig’s grief will have and recognizes that, using Hig and Bangley’s dynamic to carry that weight. With the additional moments of Hig reflecting on the past and constant movement, it can feel like the tone is set in stone. However, once the film gets past Hig’s plane crashing down into a field of trees, Scott decides to push the blooming romance between Hig and Cima to take center stage.
Although there are portions of this act to allow Hig and Cima’s grievances to create that development, it seems like Scott prioritizes the romance and a “slice-of-life”-esque element more. Then, once Hig actually accomplishes what he set out to do, Scott pushes the audience into a chilling thriller where you know that something will eventually go wrong. Insert some explosive scenes where Bangley tries to protect their homestead from some “roaches” and the narrative result is a slightly confusing jumble of different tones trying to make sense of things.
It certainly feels like Scott knows what he’s doing with The Dog Stars thematically. Through a retrospective lens that almost feels too reflective of the early 2020s, people still have hope that there will be good that brings some normalcy to the world. Of course, there will be some that have their own ideas about “normalcy” (once you see the entire Grand Junction sequence) and others who are stuck in their ways. Yet, no matter what happens and how something drastic can affect the world, optimism is the key to really staying alive. It’s what’s keeping Benedict Wong’s Aaron in that little community hopeful, even if they don’t have all the know-how of technology or medicine.
Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars is a satisfying western odyssey that succeeds in its thematic storytelling of optimism in tough times. Jacob Elordi and Marget Qualley capture that sincerity with ease and Josh Brolin and Guy Pearce are ever-so charming in their roles. Scott easily implements his aesthetically pleasing methods to easily ease the viewers into this bleak world. This film proves that Scott is still a strong director within this space.
Rating: ★★★
The Dog Stars releases in theaters on August 28.
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic with a Bachelor’s of Science with minors in Digital Media & Journalism. When not running The Reel Roller, Chris writes reviews and breakdowns on all things film and TV for outlets including Nerdtropolis, Tell-Tale TV, Eulalie Magazine, and more. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.