When a camping trip goes bad, a haggard Brad Pitt and his canine bestie switch from R&R mode to survivalist mode in an enthralling story that unfortunately sweeps a pressing moral issue under the rug.
After years of battle, and particularly traumatising experiences, retired Army Special Forces veteran James Belmont (Brad Pitt) retreats to the middle of nowhere in Alaska with his military combat dog Odin (Uber), who also suffers from PTSD.
The deeply bonded duo enjoys some solitude, except for friendly but talkative passer-by Watkins (J. K. Simmons), but are forced to get back in their light plane and head to another location to avoid a nasty storm.
However, James suffers a heart attack while in the air and the plane crashes, stranding them both injured and without any means of reaching out for rescue.
James must MacGyver his way through 58 miles of wilderness to civilisation with his loyal buddy in tow, carrying just the necessities, warding off predators and navigating the harsh terrain in the freezing climate.
A Different Kind Of War Story
After enduring the horrors of war and the physical and psychological consequences associated, it is understandable that James would seek silence and solitude – but couldn’t he have just booked an isolated Airbnb cabin on the outskirts of a small rural town and saved himself the hassle?
This incredibly well-made tribute to military canines is a fresh take on the effects of war, PTSD and the human/animal bond.
It is also a rousing story of survival, the enduring human spirit and strength, canine loyalty and the psychological impacts on animals.
It is a crowd-pleaser of an experience, with suspense, danger and heart in equal measure, but without saccharine sentimentality. And it is driven by two incredible lead performances.
Pitt and Uber really do seem like they have lived a life together, their tangible on-screen bond achieving a level that two human actors could only dream of.
Drama Over Action
Director David Ayer keeps the story grounded, opting for drama over action and suspense over carnage.
While the journey is fraught with danger and the two are put through the wringer, it is certainly not the main thrust of the story. There are several stretches of reflection and contemplation.
And most movies rely on a cut to the cute dog reaction shot to emotionally manipulate their audience – this one, thankfully, does not.
There are no perplexed head tilts or paws-covering-eyes reactions here.
Having said that, it is best to come prepared with tissues.
The Question Heart Of The Beast Leaves Behind
And while this is one of the most thoroughly entertaining films this year, there is a bit of a dark cloud that hangs over it.
It is all well and good to dedicate a story to the unsung canine heroes of war, but Heart of the Beast does not dig into why they are trained for war and sacrificed for combat in the first place.
While it doesn’t support the act, nor does it take a clear stance against it (maybe that is too un-American?), other than depicting a traumatised dog.
Honouring these intelligent and hard-working animals’ contribution to fighting for freedom is all well and good, but why are they put in these situations and what is being done to stop it?
Perhaps that angle will have to be explored in another film.
8/10
Review by Julian Wright
