(Image credit: Fabio Lovino / 20th Century Studios)
It’s no secret that Ridley Scott is one of my favorite directors. He gave us the incredible “Alien,” which is my favorite movie of all time, as well as the masterpieces “The Martian” and the ’80s classic “Blade Runner.” So naturally, I was excited for his new film, “The Dog Stars,” a post-apocalyptic thriller based on Peter Heller’s 2012 novel of the same name. One interesting production fact is that Scott reportedly shot the film in just 34 days, which speaks to its much more contained scale.Tom's Guide Verdict: 'The Dog Stars'Rating: 3.5/5 starsVerdict: Ridley Scott’s emotional apocalyptic drama is beautifully shot and anchored by strong performances, compelling characters, and haunting music. While its pacing and ending hold it back, there’s still plenty here to admire in this moving story about humanity and survival.Where to watch: "The Dog Stars" is in theaters on Aug. 28With so much of today’s post-apocalyptic media revolving around zombies and otherworldly creatures, the genre hasn’t felt particularly fresh in recent years, which makes “The Dog Stars” a welcome surprise. It follows a young pilot living at an isolated Colorado airport after a devastating pandemic has wiped out most of humanity. He survives alongside his dog and a heavily armed military survivalist, with their daily routine largely focused on staying alive and defending their small homestead from threats beyond its walls. But everything changes when they pick up a mysterious radio transmission.“The Dog Stars” isn’t really about the apocalypse itself, though. Scott is more interested in what happens to humanity, hope and connection when civilization has collapsed, essentially asking whether surviving is enough if you have nothing left to live for. Having attended the world premiere last week, I have plenty of thoughts on this new thriller, which could arguably also be described as a character drama, and how Scott has adapted the story for the big screen.The apocalypse with its heart still beating
