If there’s one film that involves a dog that you should be taking the time out of your day to go see, it’s for sure not going to be the one that involves the auteur of Alien, and instead, it’s David Ayer’s Heart of the Beast. It comes as a complete shock that Ayer has pulled out a movie that’s managed to stay on my mind long after the credits have rolled. There’s a different version of this story that could’ve been told, but what Ayer achieves is sitting longer with the audience.
Every now and again, David Ayer is able to make a film that’s worth talking about. This is a movie that feels more in line with his older work and less in tune with what he’s been bringing out as of late. It’s always satisfying seeing a script come to life from the Black List and it actually being a good movie. This is one instance of that.
Heart of the Beast follows Army Special Forces veteran James Belmont (Brad Pitt) and his military combat dog Odin, who find themselves stranded in the deep Alaskan wilderness with no help on the way. They’re forced to trek 58 miles to find their way to the nearest road and safety. On the way, they face the many dangers of the wilderness and are put to the real test of loyalty.
As the movie begins, we find Odin on the street and come across a random woman played by Anna Lambe who stops in the road to check on him. If you think that you can guess how the movie is going to play out, you’re completely wrong. Even if you do, it’ll still take you by surprise, so prepare to have tissues ready nearby, as this film will test your every emotion.
The easiest way to everyone’s heart is through animals, specifically dogs. As we all know, a dog is a man’s best friend. Heart of the Beast takes that saying and goes the full march with it. James and Odin have been through thick and thin during the war and have each other’s back no matter what. Unlike many other films that feature war veterans, we don’t focus on James and his PTSD. In fact, according to the film, he doesn’t suffer from it. Odin happens to be the unfortunate soul that’s dealing with the PTSD. This change helps the story to grip the audience and connect with Odin further as we deal with his sudden attacks throughout the movie.
Odin is played by 4 talented, wonderful dogs and while talking about an animal’s performance might sound ridiculous, it should be recognised. It’s the best performance from an animal all year, and the bond between Odin and James really shows the importance of companionship. Despite the life-threatening circumstances that they keep falling under, it’s because they have each other that they’re able to survive. If anything, this movie is a good advertisement for why everyone might need a dog in their life. If not for Uber and the three other dogs that play Odin throughout the film, the connection between them and Pitt might not have been as strong, which would lead to the movie struggling to hold that special connection with the audience.
It’s an extremely simple story about trying to make it back to civilisation, but witnessing James and Odin thwart bears, wolves and the treachorous weather and obstacles in their way just makes you cheer for them. Cameron Alexander’s script is powerful with how it focuses on the survival aspect of the story; despite it being simple, it’s effective and gets the job done. It takes something familiar and revitilises it.
J .K. Simmons quickly finds himself in this movie. His scene feels like a blink and you’ll miss it moment. It’s the only human connection that you’ll find in Heart of the Beast besides the very start and very end of the movie. Why this small moment of human connection matters is because it feels like Walter Boone and James are able to connect through Odin and his past. Their scenes barely take up any of the runtime, but it’s a memory that’ll last, as it’s moments such as those that matter most when you need them.
David Ayer’s direction is also excellent, as he brings to life these stunning set pieces that don’t only showcase the natural, beautiful nature of the Alaskan wilderness but also give us these small moments of action that keep us on the edge of our seats. Ayer’s direction combined with Brad Pitt’s performance really delivers a movie that is filled with heart. It’s his chemistry with Uber that tugs on the audience’s heartstrings and has you falling in love with both of the characters.
The final act of Heart of the Beast will leave your heart racing, but it’ll also give you a newfound love for military dogs and what they do for their nation. It reminds you that nobody ever thinks about them when it comes to their involvement in war and how it affects them after. That’s what Alexander’s script centres itself on. It’s a strong, heartfelt survival film that’s about how far loyalty can take you and the beauty of companionship.
It’s refreshing to watch a movie where a man and a dog have to fight to survive, with the focus being on the dog. Ultimately, it’s a man and dog vs. nature flick that’s gritty, vicious, and gruelling but at its core, tender, loving, and warm-hearted. Despite the American military propaganda that doesn’t work as well for a British person like myself, Heart of the Beast still sends a meaningful love letter to not just military dogs but dogs all around the world.
