The Dog Stars loses the post-apocalyptic plot
When a virus sweeps across the globe and wipes out 99 percent of humanity, what do you do? For the survivors, the answer might involve finely tuned mechanics, daring flight, and a healthy dose of sheer grit. This is the high-stakes world of The Dog Stars, a post-apocalyptic thriller that dives deep into the desperate realities of survival, all starring Jacob Elordi.
Elordi embodies Hig, a resourceful mechanic and first-class pilot navigating a broken world. He’s not just skilled with tools; he possesses the instinct to survive, making him a handy, if sometimes conflicted, friend to his counterpart, the dour Bangley. Together, they must keep their small territory free of desperate “roaches”—other humans scavenging their precious resources—while trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy.
But survival isn’t just about fighting external threats. Hig is wrestling with an internal conflict: the pull of his old life, the memory of his pregnant wife, and the presence of his beloved pup, Jasper. This emotional tether complicates the gruelling task of survival, forcing him to constantly weigh the immediate needs of the present against the longing for a life that was lost.
As Hig attempts to secure their existence, he takes risks, including dangerous flights into nearby towns to stockpile supplies. Yet, the threats don’t end there. Scratchy radio transmissions hint that they are not entirely alone, fueling a simmering tension as Hig plots a longer journey in search of other survivors.
The film explores the fascinating paradox of post-apocalyptic life. For Hig, it’s almost too easy to maintain control over the chaos. He demonstrates remarkable composure, even when faced with catastrophic events, refusing to let panic derail his focus. He possesses a kind of unshakeable confidence that makes him seem almost superhuman in the face of ruin.
The narrative balances these frantic survival tactics with moments of poignant human connection. Hig eventually encounters a father and daughter duo who offer him a lifeline, allowing him to connect not just with his tools, but with the deeper, shared experience of human existence.
However, not all elements of the film gel seamlessly. While the story thrives on adrenaline and frantic battles, some of the muscular moments occasionally feel detached from the overall emotional landscape. The narrative occasionally takes sharp, unexpected turns, leading to a third act that some viewers found jarringly abrupt, feeling less earned than the preceding tension.
The film asks profound questions about what it means to survive: What sacrifices are necessary to reclaim a piece of a lost life? Can true companionship exist when the world has fallen apart? These are the weighty themes that give The Dog Stars its staying power, even as it navigates genre detours.
Ultimately, the movie is a compelling, albeit flawed, journey. It showcases a rising talent in Elordi while grappling with the complexities of a world stripped bare. It leaves the audience pondering not just the fate of the characters, but the very definition of what it means to hold onto humanity in the face of oblivion.
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