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Review: ‘The Dog Stars’ is an Exploration of Grief that’s More Pensive Character Drama than High-Octane, Post-Apocalyptic Thriller
August 26, 2026Ben MK
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From nuclear war to zombie outbreaks, fans of post-apocalyptic cinema have been treated to every conceivable end-of-the-world scenario in the book. And whether it's a sci-fi tale of class warfare like Snowpiercer, a big-budget disaster flick like The Day After Tomorrow, or a horror-fuelled action fantasy like I am Legend, filmmakers have yet to run out of ideas when it comes to portraying humanity's struggle to survive in the wake of catastrophic loss. Now, it's Ridley Scott's turn, as the 88-year-old director sets out to bring author Peter Heller's acclaimed 2012 novel, The Dog Stars, to the big screen. But does this slow-burn drama about a group of people trying to survive a world devastated by a global pandemic have what it takes to convince moviegoers that the genre itself hasn't gone to the dogs? The year is 2035, and Hig (Jacob Elordi) is a former mechanic who lost his wife and unborn child to a deadly flu virus that has wiped out a good portion of the Earth's human population. Now, with his faithful pet dog Jasper by his side, Hig and his fellow survivalist, former U.S. Marine Bangley (Josh Brolin), do what they must to get by. Transforming an abandoned airplane hangar in the woods of Erie, Colorado into a fortified compound and flying in to the nearby city of Denver when necessary to scavenge supplies from the now abandoned ghost town, Hig and Bangley have managed to piece together an oasis in the middle of a world gone to Hell — one that also requires them to defend it on occasion from armed intruders. But when Hig comes across a radio transmission from someone claiming to be from the city of Grand Junction, he lets his curiosity get the better of him. Taking flight in his Cessna 182, Hig sets a course for the source of the transmission, hopeful that he'll encounter more survivors. However, when engine trouble forces him to take an unexpected detour, he'll discover that sometimes the most rewarding journeys come from taking the road less travelled. After landing on the property of Jack (Guy Pearce) and his daughter, Cima (Margaret Qualley), it doesn't take Hig long to strike up a rapport with Cima, who also lost her partner to the virus. But will Hig's emotional baggage get in the way of him finding something resembling happiness amid the burnt-out remnants of civilization? As a vicious and terrifying new gang of feral scavengers known as the Reapers descends upon them, Hig, Cima and Jack are forced to make the crucial decision of fight or flight, with their next, best chance of salvation being Grand Junction, where a former stewardess named Darlene (Allison Janney) presides over a retro-futuristic haven for other survivors just like them. Little does this trio realize, this potential beacon of hope may not be exactly what they think it is. But by the time they arrive at this foregone conclusion, will it be too late for them to turn back? Or are they destined for the same fate as those whose footsteps they follow in — doomed because they were too blinded by the promise of a better tomorrow to see the brutal reality of today? More of a dramatic character study and a quiet exploration of grief than an action-packed dystopian blockbuster, The Dog Stars offers up a decidedly more contemplative experience than your typical post-apocalyptic thriller. Still, despite being the polar opposite of movies like Mad Max: Fury Road and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, screenwriters Mark L. Smith and Christopher Wilkinson nonetheless manage to incorporate a handful of scenes that will no doubt remind audiences of one of Scott's most acclaimed films, Black Hawk Down. Make no mistake, viewers who step into the theater expecting something on the level of Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven or Gladiator II will most likely be disappointed. Audiences with more of an open mind, on the other hand, might actually find something worthwhile in this anti-formulaic genre tale. Suffice to say, The Dog Stars is a movie that will most certainly divide fans of both Scott and post-apocalyptic films in general. And although you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who would regard it among the legendary director's best work, the result definitely merits consideration. Either way, the solid performances from Elordi, Qualley, Brolin and Pearce easily justify the price of admission. Just don't expect this version of the end of the world to end with a bang; because when all is said and done, it's more of a whimper. The Dog Stars releases August 26th, 2026 from 20th Century Studios. The film has an MPAA rating of R for strong violence and language. Its runtime is 1 hr. 58 min. |
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