Sir Ridley Scott's latest film, "The Dog Stars," offers a glimpse into a post-apocalyptic future, with Jacob Elordi in a leading role. At 88, Scott continues his prolific filmmaking career with this adaptation of Peter Heller's 2012 novel.
The film is set in 2035, following a devastating flu pandemic that has all but wiped out human civilization. The story centers on Hig, portrayed by Elordi, an immaculately stubbled former mechanic and pilot who has established a life with his beloved Belgian Malinois, Jasper, at an abandoned Colorado airfield. They share their fortified existence with the gruff ex-Marine Bangley, played by Josh Brolin, who emphasizes their self-sufficiency with "food, power, water, weapons and a perimeter we can defend."
Their precarious survival is threatened by "reapers," described as marauding tribes of tattooed, machete-wielding scavengers. Despite the harsh reality, Hig yearns for human connection and embarks on a journey in his small Cessna. This quest leads him to encounter various characters, including a potential love interest played by Margaret Qualley, her father portrayed by Guy Pearce, a Mennonite community led by Benedict Wong, and Allison Janney as a peculiar former flight attendant.
While "The Dog Stars" does not aim to reinvent the end-of-the-world genre, it offers a comforting message about appreciating simple things, such as a morning coffee, a cigarette, playing fetch with a dog, and the ability to repair items in a world where such skills are essential. Elordi's performance is highlighted as a soulful turn that elevates his status as a leading man.
For the first two-thirds of its runtime, the film functions as a melancholic post-apocalyptic hangout movie. However, Scott injects tension and action into the latter part of the film with what are described as tense, thunderous, and bloodthirsty set-pieces, reminiscent of his earlier works like "Alien" and "Gladiator." Assisted by Erik Messerschmidt's sweeping aerial cinematography, "The Dog Stars" delivers moments that soar, despite its scale compared to Scott's more epic films.