'Heart of the Beast' Review: A Fiercely Gripping Tale Of Survival
After collaborating on the war epic Fury, director David Ayer and Brad Pitt have reunited for the new survival film Heart of the Beast, a fiercely gripping and emotionally compelling tale of companionship put to the test.
‘Heart of the Beast’ centers on a retired special forces officer named James (Brad Pitt) and his combat dog Odin as they find themselves stranded in the brutal and unforgiving Alaskan wilderness following a harrowing plane crash where they must fight against the bitter conditions in order to survive and make their way home. Survival films are a dime a dozen, but director David Ayer and Pitt have ensured that this tale is sure to stand out from the immensely crowded pack, delivering a film that is as thrilling as it is emotionally engaging.
The pairing of Pitt and Odin the dog makes for one of the most entertaining to come around the bend in quite some time, the bond and rich history between James and this incredible canine felt in each and every frame of the film. They’re not only incredibly entertaining to watch on screen, but the emotional connection and natural chemistry they share with one another is continuous highlight, allowing the audience to become emotionally invested in their arduous and perilous journey with ease. Pitt is especially strong here, delivering an understated, nuanced performance as he navigates James’ relationship with Odin and the traumatic past they both share from the service. This is not a showy performance by any stretch which benefits the film tremendously, Pitt stepping up to the plate with a physically and emotionally committed performance that is able to fill in the blanks that are left on the page for his character. Simply put, these two always keep the audience glued to the screen as they face obstacle after obstacle during their odyssey through the harsh and indifferent wilderness.
Ayer also delivers strong work behind the camera, allowing this tale to always feel grounded and tactile, especially during the film’s set pieces which have the stripped-down, visceral pop they need to remind audiences that James and Otis’ lives are constantly at stake, where every move they make could in fact be their very last. The action sequences and physical obstacles involving the two of them never feels repetitive or monotonous, each new set piece raising the stakes considerably as they’re physically put through the ringer time and time again. This is a handsomely made film through and through, proving once again that Ayer’s talents and capabilities behind the camera lend exceedingly well to mid-budget fair, an environment in which his skills can truly shine and remind audiences he has the goods at the helm. It’s abundantly clear that Pitt and Ayer work well together, both of them on the same page about where they want to take these characters and how they want this story to look and feel.
As thrilling as the film is, its biggest asset is by far and away its beating heart that it wears firmly and earnestly on its sleeve. While the trajectory of the story is highly predictable, the journey to the seemingly inevitably destination is so effectively handled that the emotional punch of the film hits like a freight train. The film has a consistent emotional undercurrent that serves the story well, fleshing out James and Odin’s backstory through fast-paced and immersive flashbacks that nicely fleshes out their history and forged bond after what they’ve experienced together. As a result, this is not simply a survival story about a dog owner and his pet, but about two best friends who are willing to do anything for each other to keep themselves and the other alive. Thankfully, the heart of the film never feels manipulative or forced, but instead naturally earned over the course of its enveloping story as the bond between these two gets even stronger than thought possible.
However, the film does suffer from some minor issues that hold it back unfortunately. First and foremost, the story and structure of the film offers little to no surprises, rarely heading into exciting or uncharted territory to keep the audience on their toes and their expectations in the palm of its hand. The structure doesn’t do help matters, especially since its James and Odin facing a physically demanding obstacle, winding down afterward and then facing another in a rinse and repeat fashion that causes the pacing of the film to suffer as well, giving the film a very stop and go momentum that nearly causes it to stall completely. Also, as reliably charismatic and warm as J.K. Simmons is here in a small supporting role, his character ultimately feels superfluous to the story, contributing very little and causing the first act of the film to be more bloated and sluggish than it should. If his character was taken out of the film completely, nothing would be negatively impacted. In fact, the pacing and momentum of the film would feel tighter and more refined.
Heart of the Beast may not be the most original survival film to hit the big screen, but it’s certainly one of the more emotionally compelling entries into the genre in quite some time. Ayer and Pitt continue to work wonders together as they have crafted a passionately made story that provides plenty of entertainment value and reasons to grab the tissues as well. Safe to say, when the credits roll, there should hardly be a dry eye in the house as dog owners barrel home to give their furry friends plenty of love and affection.