THE DOG STARS – Review by T.J. Callahan
The Dog Stars: What did you do before the world ended?
Wake up. Defend. Survive. That’s life in 2035. At least in Colorado, after a deadly flu epidemic wiped out most of the human population.
The Dog Stars is based on a 2012… before Covid…end of the world as we know it novel by Peter Heller. The dystopian saga features Jacob Elordi as Hig, a widowed mechanic and pilot, who lives with his dog Jasper and a military survivalist named Bangley, played by Josh Brolin. They’ve set up house in an abandoned airplane hangar nestled in a valley between mountains outside of Denver. He spends his days trying to stay one step ahead of the roaming scavengers called Reapers and flying his Cessna into the remains of the city to gather hidden supplies. Until one day, when he hears a distant voice over his cockpit radio. Still believing in humanity over evil, Hig dares to fly past the “safe zone” to see if a better life exists.
This post-apocalyptic sci-fi adventure is directed by Ridley Scott, yet The Dog Stars is the least cataclysmic nail-biter Scott has helmed in a while. It’s rather tame for the other-worldy, action thriller master. There are impressive aerial sequences. Brolin and Guy Pearce, who plays an over protective dad, are having fun as lookalike armed defenders, but Margaret Qualley, as Pearce’s daughter, is wasted as a pseudo love interest and Allison Janney, while hilariously freaky as a flight attendant caught in a time warp, seems like she appeared due to a last minute script change to punch up the story.
The Dog Stars is not a riveting IMAX worthy epic survival tale, but it’s watchable as a B grade dire love story surrounded by weirdos. Take two ibuprofen as directed to ward off this celluloid virus. At 88, Scott looks to be in the twilight of his directing years with The Dog Stars. My husband Ricky had one and a half 👀s open. The film barks up to a 5 out of 10 on the TeejFlixometer. The book may just be the better choice.
