Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars is a well-acted post-apocalyptic film, but predictable

📽 Post-apocalyptic movies are a well-worn trope that tend to fare best when given an unexpected twist or exceptionally well-written characters. Sci-fi maven director Ridley Scott’s latest venture, The Dog Stars, adapted from Peter Heller’s 2012 novel of the same name, unfortunately offers little that feels genuinely fresh. Led by a big-name cast — Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, and Guy Pearce — the movie is an underwhelming, reflective take on a dreary post-apocalyptic world, punctuated by flimsy notes of hope.

The plot: Elordi plays the story’s leading man, Hig, a former mechanic haunted by images of his now-dead pregnant wife and accompanied by his best friend, Jasper the dog. It’s 2035, and an unnamed flu has wiped out much of the world’s population. Living with his friend Bangley (Brolin) in a carefully protected home, Hig spends his days flying his plane in search of supplies, fishing, and scanning the horizon for potential threats from other survivors. Grieving and restless, Hig takes off for Grand Junction, lured by the promise of a better life. Along the way, his plane crashes near a ranch, where he befriends Cima (Qualley) and her father, Pops (Pearce).

Our thoughts: Given Scott’s track record of acclaimed sci-fi movies, this one feels like a far cry from his best — and its USD 8 mn box office opening certainly doesn’t help its case. While well-produced, with stunning wide shots of the natural landscape and great-but-not-surprising acting performances, the movie’s premise is ultimately dull and unoriginal. Some scenes drag, the plot picks up too late and only intermittently, and the action scenes felt overly relied upon to keep things moving.

Alongside the familiar dystopian concept, the idea of rivalries among surviving groups felt particularly repetitive, while the overall message — or lack thereof — left us wondering what exactly we were supposed to take away from a movie this star-studded and heavily budgeted. Perhaps the movie’s only silver lining is the hope it conveys through the characters’ personal triumphs.

The verdict: All this to say, The Dog Stars is not a bad movie when viewed as a standalone. The plot has its redeeming qualities, and the acting is another solid addition to the stars’ respective rosters. If you’re looking to pass the time with an easy watch and modest expectations, or if post-apocalyptic stories are your thing, perhaps give it a go.

WHERE TO WATCH- Still wanna give it a shot? You can catch the film at VOX Cinemas at City Center Almaza, Mall of Egypt, and City Center Alexandria. The film is also screening at Stars Cinema (City Stars), Scene Cinema (Cairo Festival City and District 5), and Premiere Cinemas (Cima Arkan and P90). Watch the trailer on YouTube (watch, runtime: 2:06).