Brad Pitt stars as retired special forces officer James Belmont, who finds himself stranded in the vast Alaskan wilderness with his dog Odin in David Ayer's "Heart of the Beast".
The film is a survivalist drama, but it is more about a man's enduring love for his combat-trained German Shepherd than anything else. If you have a soft spot for canines, "Heart of the Beast" can be a difficult watch. James and Odin share a long history, having teamed up on special missions and saved each other's lives. Now they live in peaceful retirement, flying and camping wherever nature takes them.
That peace ends when James suffers a cardiac arrest while piloting his plane, causing it to crash. He and Odin are forced to find a safe escape amid the looming threats of nature.
As James Belmont, Pitt delivers a vulnerable turn that is a breath of fresh air after his recent streak of suave roles. It is a moving performance in which he exerts a great deal of emotion and even more physicality.
"Heart of the Beast" puts its two leads in dangerous situations and builds to a powerful send-off, though it is let down by a questionable opening scene that pre-empted the ending. At times the film feels like it is forcing viewers to feel a certain emotion, but it is quite effective on that front nonetheless. Overall, it is a reliable man and dog drama if that is what you are looking for. Nothing groundbreaking.
“Heart of the Beast” is now showing in cinemas.
Featured images from Paramount Pictures.
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