entertainment
The Dog Stars review
An adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 novel never finds its footing with overly familiar survival beats and a glum lack of energy
TL;DR
- The Dog Stars, a $110 million adaptation of Peter Heller's novel, was released in a weak August slot, indicating potential issues.
- The film is a post-apocalyptic survival story, a genre already oversaturated on both big and small screens, offering little novelty.
- Despite a strong cast including Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce, Margaret Qualley, and Allison Janney, the performances and script are criticized for being uninspired and lacking depth.
- The direction by Ridley Scott is described as oddly directed and lacking the usual edge, with some visual effects appearing janky.
- The plot relies on familiar tropes, with characters' motivations and dialogues feeling forced and unconvincing.
- The film's release dates are August 27 in Australia and August 28 in the US and UK.