'Heart of the Beast' review: I wanted to love Brad Pitt's new survival thriller. Then it got really cheesy
A military veteran is stranded in the wilderness alongside his dog, but the story of their journey barely tugs at the heartstrings.
Brad Pitt stars in the survival thriller "Heart of the Beast," a movie that initially holds promise with its focus on a military veteran and his loyal German Shepherd, Odin. The filmmakers know their audience well, opening the film with a flash-forward showing Odin emerging from the Alaskan wilderness and navigating to a friendly driver.
While there are tense moments and strong performances from Pitt and Odin, the movie ultimately becomes cheesy and unrealistic. Despite the knowledge that Odin will survive, the story remains predictable and borderline sappy, occasionally verging on military propaganda. While there are moments of stark tension, such as a dive to retrieve supplies from a submerged plane and an attempt to cross a ravine over a raging river, the film ultimately succumbs to CGI predators that are more distracting than scary.
The cloying final message is reminiscent of a military recruitment PSA, making the film a simplistic fantasy more suited for a middle-aged demographic. Pitt's gritty portrayal of James is commendable, but the movie ultimately fails to leave a lasting impact.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
