The Dog Stars Review: Ridley Scott’s Apocalypse Drama Finds Its Heart in Grief and Humanity

Going into The Dog Stars completely blind might have been the best way to experience it. I hadn't watched a trailer, never read Peter Heller's novel and knew very little beyond what could be gathered from the key art. Clearly, something had gone very wrong with the world, but based on the title and imagery, I expected a relatively straightforward post apocalyptic story about a man trying to survive alongside his dog.

Well, I got part of that right.

Ridley Scott's The Dog Stars certainly begins as the survival story I expected, with Jacob Elordi at the center of a world devastated by a pandemic. But as the film unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that surviving the end of civilization isn't really what Scott is most interested in exploring. This is a movie about grief, loss and the complicated question of what exactly you're surviving for when almost everything that once gave your life meaning is gone.

And yes, there were moments when I couldn't help thinking, "This feels like an episode of The Walking Dead." That's not necessarily an insult.

The Apocalypse Is Really Just the Beginning

Elordi plays Hig, one of the few survivors left after a devastating flu wiped out most of humanity. He lives at an abandoned Colorado airport with his dog and the heavily armed Bangley, played by Josh Brolin. Their personalities and approaches to survival couldn't be more different, but their uneasy partnership has allowed them to keep going in a world where trusting the wrong person could get you killed.

The movie establishes its post apocalyptic environment without becoming obsessed with explaining every detail of how we got there. In fact, The Dog Stars leaves quite a few questions unanswered, and your mileage may vary on how satisfying that approach is. I definitely found myself wanting more information about this world and some of the circumstances surrounding it.

At the same time, withholding those answers keeps the focus where the movie wants it: on the people who remain.

That is where The Dog Stars becomes considerably more interesting than the simple survival movie I expected. It explores how people behave when society's rules no longer matter, what grief does to someone who never truly gets the opportunity to process it and how desperately human beings continue searching for connection even when isolation might be the safer option. There is something particularly relevant about watching characters navigate fear, distrust and the instinct to protect themselves while still craving some version of community.

Josh Brolin as Bangley in 20th Century Studios' THE DOG STARS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2026 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Josh Brolin and Guy Pearce Nearly Walk Away With the Movie

Elordi is unquestionably the lead, and he gives Hig the vulnerability necessary to make the emotional side of the story work. This isn't a character who simply becomes an indestructible action hero because civilization collapsed. Hig carries his losses with him, and Elordi does a strong job showing how grief has fundamentally changed the man without completely extinguishing his humanity.

That said, I hate to do this to him, but Josh Brolin and Guy Pearce nearly steal the movie right out from under him.

Brolin brings an intimidating practicality to Bangley that makes him fascinating whenever he's onscreen. He's the kind of character perfectly designed for an apocalypse because he understands the ugly realities of survival, but Brolin also finds enough underneath that hard exterior to keep him from becoming a one note doomsday stereotype. Pearce is equally compelling, bringing another layer of unpredictability to a movie already deeply concerned with whether other human beings represent salvation or danger.

Together, the performances elevate some of the film's quieter material and reinforce its larger examination of humanity under extreme circumstances.

Guy Pearce as Pa in 20th Century Studios' THE DOG STARS. © 2026 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Ridley Scott Still Knows How to Make the End of the World Look Gorgeous

Visually, this is exactly the level of filmmaking you'd expect with Ridley Scott behind the camera. The cinematography captures both the beauty and loneliness of a world that suddenly has far fewer people inhabiting it. Wide landscapes emphasize just how isolated these characters have become, while the quieter imagery gives the movie room to breathe between its more intense moments.

Scott also doesn't treat the apocalypse as an excuse to bombard the audience with nonstop action. There is tension and violence, but The Dog Stars is surprisingly reflective. Some that are expecting a traditional post apocalyptic thriller may find the pacing slower than anticipated, but the restraint allows the themes of grief and loneliness to become the actual driving forces behind the story.

Where the film struggles more is in its final stretch. After investing so much time in these characters and raising several fascinating questions about its world, the ending left me wanting more than what it ultimately delivered. There is an emotional intention behind where the story lands, but the payoff doesn't quite match the journey that got us there.

The TV Cave Verdict

The Dog Stars wasn't the movie I thought I was walking into, and for most of its runtime, that's a good thing. What initially looks like a story about a man, his dog and surviving the apocalypse gradually reveals itself as something much more thoughtful about loss, grief, trust and the human need for connection.

There are unanswered questions I wish the movie had explored further, and the ending doesn't land with quite the impact the rest of the film earns. Still, strong performances, gorgeous cinematography and a surprisingly human story make The Dog Stars worth the journey. Elordi carries the film capably, but Brolin and Pearce are the ones who walked away with my attention.

Maybe I went in expecting a man and his dog. Instead, Ridley Scott gave me grief, existential questions and occasional Walking Dead flashbacks. Fair enough.

Grade: B-