Brad Pitt's 'Heart of the Beast' Goes Beyond the Survival Thriller - Tempo.co English
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Brad Pitt’s Heart of the Beast is more than a survival thriller. After a plane crash separates a retired Special Forces soldier from his combat dog, the two must fight their way back to each other and find their way home in the Alaskan wilderness.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Heart of the Beast may seem like a typical survival thriller set in the wilderness at first glance. Beneath its action and dangerous encounters, however, the film is truly a love story about the powerful bond between a former soldier and his loyal combat dog.
Pitt stars as James Belmont, a retired Special Forces soldier who served in Iraq and Afghanistan for 30 years. After retiring, James heads into the Alaskan wilderness with Odin, his German Shepherd and longtime companion.
Odin is no ordinary pet. The former combat dog has suffered serious injuries during his service, leaving him with titanium teeth and a prosthetic leg. He also struggles with traumas that are linked to his experiences in war. Their history makes their relationship even more meaningful as they face the challenges ahead together.
Their trip quickly turns into a fight for survival when James’ small plane crashes in the remote wilderness. James survives the crash but is separated from Odin. The nearest road is about 58 miles away. He must find his dog and escape the wilderness alive.
The journey puts both of them through a series of dangerous situations. They encounter a grizzly bear and wolves, and they must cross steep terrain, a dangerous makeshift bridge, and fast-moving water. Both James and Odin suffer injuries along the way that make their journey even more difficult.
Still, the film’s main focus is not simply on whether they will survive. The relationship between James and Odin is what gives the story its emotional weight. James may be highly trained and experienced, but he is still vulnerable to fear, pain, and loss. Odin also has to push through his own physical limitations to keep going.
David Ayer directed Heart of the Beast. He previously worked with Pitt on Fury. The film also takes Ayer in a different direction from many of his previous projects, moving away from urban crime and intense human conflicts to focus on the vast and unforgiving wilderness.
Although the story takes place in Alaska, the film was mostly shot in New Zealand. At 101 minutes long, Heart of the Beast is a survival action film with an emotional story about loyalty, companionship, and the bond between a man and his dog. The film currently holds an 89 percent Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 61 critic reviews, while the audience score has yet to receive verified ratings.
