*Heart of the Beast* is the latest in a long line of films about a man and his dog—though this time, it isn't about Prince Harry. Here, Brad Pitt plays James Belmont, a retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major accompanied by his service dog, Obie, who lost a leg in combat. Instead of renaming his dog "Tripod" or leaving him in the care of the military, the pair spends their days flying Belmont’s single-seat light aircraft over America’s vast forests and parks, camping and enjoying the tranquility and natural beauty of the landscape (even though the film was shot in New Zealand). Cinematographer Mauro Fiore captures stunning scenery; the shots of the plane set against majestic backdrops are far better executed than those in Ridley Scott’s recent flop, *The Dog Stars*.
Both man and dog suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—depicted in the film through flashbacks—and the serenity of their surroundings has a calming effect on their state of mind. Far removed from other people, their only encounter with another human happens by chance: they run into a fellow camper played by J.K. Simmons, toward whom Belmont displays unnecessary suspicion. The only creature he truly trusts is Obie.
Director: David Ayer
Writer: Cameron Alexander
Stars: Brad Pitt, J.K. Simmons, Anna Lambe
However, everything changes when Belmont suffers a heart attack while piloting the plane and crashes into a lake, forcing them to find their way back to civilization. What should be a relatively straightforward task for a former soldier quickly becomes complicated by their injuries and the threat of wildlife; the pair must confront a massive bear and a pack of wolves, a situation that grows increasingly critical and diminishes their chances of making it back to civilization. The film opens with a van approaching Odin (played by Uber), a German Shepherd standing alone in the middle of a remote road. As the driver moves in to greet him, the story flashes back one week.
Odin is sitting in the cockpit of a small plane beside his owner, James (Brad Pitt), who is taking them on a camping trip in the mountains of Alaska. It is clear that James and Odin do this often and are well-practiced at it. James is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer, and Odin is his retired military service dog. James left the service with scars and a longing for solitude; Odin, with a prosthetic leg and nightmares stemming from PTSD. They are best friends. When James suffers a heart attack while they are flying home, they crash-land and find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere, relying entirely on each other to survive.
Starting from this premise, *Heart of the Beast* follows a fairly predictable path—with James and Odin saving each other from raging rivers, wild animals, and dangerous falls—but that is not a bad thing. The film delivers the expected moments satisfactorily and with genuine emotional resonance. Ayer—a director with a track record full of testosterone-fueled films like *End of Watch*, *Fury* (starring Brad Pitt), and several Jason Statham movies—is more than capable of crafting a solid action-adventure, but here he also knows when to show tenderness. Through numerous thrilling action sequences, executed with excellent pacing, he continues to cement the bond between James and Odin. The screenplay, written by Cameron Alexander, shares the heroism around: for instance, Odin tries to revive James when he suffers the heart attack, and James looks after Odin following the crash; Thus, it is not just a matter of an extremely loyal dog, but of a moving, mutual protection.
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