‘The Dog Stars’ is a plea for humanity
‘The Dog Stars’ is set in a fictional future, yet it could hardly be more topical. Ridley Scott’s latest film may strike a quiet note, but its message is all the more powerful for it: there is hope. Always.
Don’t worry: the following film review contains no spoilers. I won’t reveal any more than is already known and can be seen in the trailers. «The Dog Stars» is in cinemas from 27 August.
Whether it’s «Mad Max», «28 Days Later», «Children of Men» or «The Walking Dead», I like the post-apocalypse. Not because I’d want to experience it myself, but because the stories fascinate me. Whilst I used to be primarily interested in good entertainment, over time I’ve become increasingly interested in the human factor: What drives the survivors? How do they behave? How do they interact with other survivors? «now also offers possible answers to these questions: The Dog Stars».
What it’s about
The year is 2035. A virus has wiped out most of humanity. Hig (Jacob Elordi) is one of the few survivors. Together with his dog Jasper and the gruff, military-trained Bangley (Josh Brolin), he has set up camp at an airfield in the mountains of Colorado. Their daily routine consists of reconnaissance flights, restocking supplies and fending off looters.
Bangley seems made for this world and the daily struggle for survival. Hig, on the other hand, struggles with it all and feels that there must be more to life than this. A life-changing experience gives him the impetus he needs to take his Cessna and investigate a radio transmission he recently picked up. And suddenly, nothing is as it was.
Source: 20th Century Studios
A glimmer of hope amidst the hopelessness
«The Dog Stars» is based on the eponymous bestselling novel by Peter Heller, which was published in 2012. The screenplay was written by Mark L. Smith («The Revenant»); it is directed by none other than Ridley Scott («Alien», «Gladiator», «The Last Duel»). A name that catches my attention and, combined with the trailer, stirs up certain expectations. Because if anyone can go all out in creating a post-apocalyptic world, it’s surely Scott, as I’m sure some of you are thinking – just as I am.
Yet the veteran director has caught me off guard (or perhaps not). In * «: The Dog Stars*», he opts for a subdued tone rather than sensationalism. Despite the odd burst of violence, Scott places humanity and interpersonal relationships at the forefront – exactly what’s needed to avoid emotional neglect and not lose hope in a depraved and barbaric world. It’s refreshing and, at times, feels genuinely contemplative.
The beautiful and extensive aerial shots of the landscape play their part, as does the sparingly used music, such as Hoziers’ ‘ «Like Real People Do’».
Too little love and time
But what would humanity be without people? This is ensured by a cast that reads like a «‘Who’s Who’»: Jacob Elordi («‘Euphoria’») and Josh Brolin («‘No Country for Old Men’») are joined by, amongst others, Margaret Qualley («‘The Substance’»), Guy Pearce («Memento») and Benedict Wong («Weapons»). They all demonstrate their talent and deliver convincing performances. The fact that, despite all the humanity, I’m left feeling something is missing at the end is down less to the cast than to the screenplay.
Despite its 119-minute running time, the film repeatedly fails to take enough time to explain a character’s actions or motivations in a way that makes sense. Some characters come across as clichéd. Furthermore, Hig’s journey feels episodic and as though it’s been rushed through fast-forward, regardless of any scenes intended to slow the pace. I can’t shake the impression that, with sufficient running time in the form of a self-contained miniseries, the story could have unfolded much better.
Source: 20th Century Studios
In a nutshell
Ridley Scott conveys a great message with subtle tones
I'm a full-blooded dad and husband, part-time nerd and chicken farmer, cat tamer and animal lover. I would like to know everything and yet I know nothing. I know even less, but I learn something new every day. What I am good at is dealing with words, spoken and written. And I get to prove that here.
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