I could have sworn that I read somewhere that Heart of the Beast was based on a true story or inspired by true events. As it turns out, it’s neither. It’s a fictional story written by Cameron Alexander.
And since the movie is based “somewhere in Alaska” I had assumed that much of the movie had been filmed there. Again, I was wrong. All of it was shot in New Zealand’s South Island!
But while those things are not true, let me tell you one thing that is: the dog doesn’t die in the end! This isn’t a spoiler. It’s practically spelled out for you during the film’s first minute or two with the intent of calming audiences.
Heart of the Beast is unlike most movies made today as the story is centered on just two characters. Brad Pitt plays retired Army Special Forces veteran James Belmont who flies to a remote area of Alaska wilderness for fishing, birdwatching, drawing sketches and reading. Truly getting away from it all.
Director David Ayer didn’t shoot one scene within a soundstage or a studio lot. The entire movie was filmed in the wilderness with unpredictable weather and terrain. I don’t know if they had to wait for storms to come or just improvise when they did. It’s all beautiful to look at it and seemingly peaceful.
James isn’t really a people-person. Instead, he prefers the company of his dog military combat dog Odin (played by Uber, a German Shepherd). It isn’t clear how long the two have been retired, but both still suffer from PTSD and heavily rely on each other.
The movie has very sparse dialogue since James is either talking to himself or Odin. (Although I think Odin speaks with his eyes.) And then there is Watkins, a stranger who shows up at James’ campsite. The mystery man is played by J.K. Simmons for essentially an extended cameo. Compared to James, the unwanted guest is a chatterbox. As James relaxes, it becomes a sweet scene as the two share beers while looking out over the water and talking about life. Watkins shares an inspiring quote from a book, “It’s not who you live for…It’s who you’d die for.”
Without warning, this peaceful story takes a darker turn and the adventure really begins. The man and dog suddenly find themselves stuck in the middle of nowhere with no form of communication. They will have to take a 58-mile trek just to find the nearest road. It’s a daunting and exhausting task that includes crossing a raging river, facing threatening wildlife, dealing with injuries, and dealing with memories of combat trauma.
The adrenaline-pumping adventure is a thrill ride that is genuinely scary at times. Pitt is impressive as he performs many of his own stunts including scenes navigating an ice-cold river. When he looks like he is freezing, he really is. Pitt went through extensive training with Navy SEALs and wilderness survival trainers to perform physical challenges realistically and he performs a lot of them. And yet, he never comes across as “perfect”. James makes multiple mistakes, but he never gives up.
But Pitt’s co-star is an amazing actor as well. His years of working with police and as a search-and-rescue dog helped to pave the way for this performance. Both his and Pitt’s interactions together look genuine and not forced. I will not be surprised if there is a surge in sales of German Shepherds in the coming months.
As for the other animals that appear in the film, from what I understand, the use of CGI effects were used at a minimum.
As good as Heart of the Beast is, I still have some lingering questions about the story itself. I question some of the decisions Alexander and Ayer made along the way and honestly, I’m not so sure that the ending comes together as well as they hoped.
And a note for parents – don’t bring your kids to see this movie just because they love dogs. This isn’t a Disneynature film after all. It’s very intense with some brutal scenes both in the present and wartime flashbacks. I left the theatre feeling worn out.
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