The Dog Stars review

 

Based upon the acclaimed novel Ridley Scott's latest movie is a real stick in the mud rather than this big, bold post apocalyptic survival movie that is seems to be on paper. Featuring a pretty stellar cast including Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce and more The Dog Stars has a lot going on but for the most part it just feels rather bland and uninteresting. It follows a group of survivors from a global pandemic (2020 vibes) who search for a mysterious radio transmissions origin point. What follows is a fight for survival against scavengers, wild dogs and whatever else may be lurking around. 

Performance wise I did like Jacob Elordi's performance here it's a bit one note but for what is was trying to go for it I found it really working. As for everyone else they do a fine job but really the material they're working with isn't exactly astounding in a screenplay that tries to do so much but manages to achieve very little in my opinion. Visually too it's all rather bleak and grey but given the world has turned upside down it works and it's these moments where Elordi's character is really in the thick of things where it works the best.

The Dog Stars isn't bad per say it's just dull and uninspired. I've never read the novel it is based upon so I can't speak for the source material but as a movie it's really nothing truly special to write home about. Ridley Scott really hasn't made an epicly great movie in quite some time and this here just further proves that point. Not horrible just nothing memorable either.

★★