Our Review

               Movie: THE DOG STARS

                         Rating: R 

                       Length: 1:58

          Release Date: AUGUST 28, 2026

DAVID:  The all-veteran cast in THE DOG STARS lives up to its reputation. Of course, Jacob Elordi --- in the lead role --- hasn’t been around relatively that long, but he seems like a veteran actor. Certainly he’s become an A-lister.

Elordi is great here, his handsome looks accenting the bravery and desire he has for finding out what has happened.

They’re all exceptional in this imaginary tale adapted by screenwriter Mark L. Smith from the novel by Peter Heller. And with Ridley Scott directing, how could this movie fail? It doesn’t.

The year is 2035 and takes place in the Denver area. There are not many people to be seen because there has been some sort of apocalyptic event that may or may not apply to other parts of America, or the rest of the world for that matter. Without television, newspapers, internet --- how can anyone know what the situation is elsewhere?

Such is the desire for Hig (Elordi), a mechanic under normal conditions and a pilot now who flies an old Cessna small plane, always accompanied by his best friend, his dog Jasper. His canine buddy is exceptionally well-trained, instantly responding to one-word commands from his master. (Jasper is actually portrayed by three different dogs). Hig is also haunted by the earlier death of his wife, depicted only in flashbacks as he sits dejectedly in his bedroom.

Hig is determined to reach Grand Junction, Colorado, to see if there is any sign of human life. Of course, things don’t always go according to plan, so he winds up in another part of the state, running into Pops (Guy Pearce) and his daughter, Cima (Margaret Qualley). It’s an intriguing storyline which starts off rather roughly for Hig, but changes to the point where he and Pops share shots of whiskey. Pearce and Qualley are both exceptional here.

Back at the “home” he shares with a tough guy named Bangley (Josh Brolin), the pair are apparently good friends, although Bangley is skeptical of anything that resembles other people. He keeps a loaded rifle handy to protect the meager set-up where he and Hig reside. Bangley is always on the lookout for rogue bands of survivors called reapers.

The two manage to kill time playing poker, using $5000 bands of cash for their betting. In this scene, as Hig quits the game, Bangley reminds him he still has $30,000 left to play with, but Hig jus tells him to keep it. There is no need for money in this era, because there is no place to spend it. Brolin’s character injects just enough humor into their bleak situation to maintain some form of normalcy.

Allison Janney has what amounts to a cameo as Darlene near the film’s end, and she is a hoot --- but in a rather terrifying manner. It’s actually an astonishing performance, however brief. Benedict Wong rounds out the cast as Aaron. Wong is one of the actors who made  the list for “The 32 Greatest Character Actors Working Today”, as selected by directors and critics, among others.

THE DOG STARS can be distressing although the cinematography under Erik Messerschmidt is fantastic and provides relief for the viewer from all the destruction we witness --- wrecked and overturned cars, shattered buildings, wild animals roaming the deserted streets.

But other shots of Hig’s plane reveal the pristine, untouched beauty of lakes and mountains. Aussie helicopter pilot Tom Berger captures most of this phenomenal landscape as we watch from above the Cessna.

Ultimately, THE DOG STARS transcends all the destruction and despair to let us know there is a strong desire for human connection in people with good hearts. Yes, despite whatever took place to create such a hazardous environment --- a major epidemic is suggested --- we are left with something that can be summed up in a single word --- hope.

Scott used multiple cameras to film virtually every scene, so if something didn’t go precisely the way the director wanted, the take would evolve into the desired moment. Composer Harry Gregson-Williams, with films like GLADIATOR II and THE MARTIAN, has now collaborated with Scott for the eighth time with his brilliant score for THE DOG STARS.

OPINION: STRONG SEE IT NOW!