Heart of the Beast – Budget of $40 – 87 million – 1 hour and 41 minutes
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Retired Special Forces Officer James travels with his highly trained combat canine, Odin. Odin lost his paw and several teeth in different missions. Although both are retired, they have PTSD-induced nightmares about their battles. They comfort and encourage each other. They make the woods their home and live off the land.
James plays fetch with Odin and maintains his training with a bite sleeve. Later, James packs up their supplies but shakes his arm, thinking Odin’s bite was more vicious this time around. James takes his supplies and Odin to his plane and takes off for another location. While flying, James suffers a heart attack. He calls for help but passes out before he can relay his coordinates. Odin whimpers and lies on James’s back. The door opens, pulling Odin out of the plane before it crashes.
James wakes up underwater and finds a small air pocket. He gets a couple of quick breaths before swimming to the surface. He frantically searches for Odin and finds him unconscious in the woods. James checks his friend for broken bones and other injuries. Odin survived his fall with minor scrapes and bruises. James runs back to the wreckage, gathers his supplies, and slowly brings them ashore. James sets up camp while Odin recovers.
In the morning, James wakes to find Odin staring at him. He hugs his companion and sighs. However, his arm and chest still hurt. He gobbles aspirin and studies a map. The nearest road is 58 miles away, and no one is coming for them. James and Odin have one more mission. They must brave the terrain, animals, and weather to get help. Will they make it?
This survivalist film is a love letter to combat canines. They suffer through the same war wounds as their comrades but can’t speak. When Odin has nightmares, you hear the sounds of battle. However, James’s nightmares are visual. Both experiences are equally haunting. When James encounters an individual roaming through the woods, it opens a dialogue about the origin of Odin’s physical scars. Then, the audience gets to know Odin and James. So, there is little dialogue, only observation and companionship. The director takes advantage of on-location shooting, including natural light and sounds. However, with little dialogue, the quiet can become boring. The viewer watches them eat, sleep, and use the restroom for several shots. It becomes monotonous. Then, the plot drops in something exciting. This film is another man-dog story, and it recognizes service members, no matter how many legs they have. This movie is for people who like dogs, the outdoors, and adventure but don’t mind the lull.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
What was that! – James
Not real big on social niceties. I respect that – Watkins
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Categories: AMC Screen Unseen, Anna Lambe, brad pitt, Heart of the Beast, In The Theater, jk simmons, movie, review
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