Heart of the Beast * Attempts To Tell A Meaningful Story But Riddled With Frustrating Inconsistencies
Heart of the Beast is an upcoming American survival thriller film directed by David Ayer, starring Brad Pitt and J.K. Simmons. The movie marks a reunion between Pitt and director David Ayer for the first time since their 2014 World War II epic, Fury.
After surviving a plane crash, a former Special Forces soldier finds himself trapped in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness with his combat dog. Together, they battle the elements and other animals in a harsh landscape that would likely kill any other man or dog.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Valeria M. comments, “I found Heart of the Beast underwhelming. Despite its attempts to tell a meaningful story, the plot is riddled with frustrating inconsistencies, and Brad Pitt’s performance simply isn’t believable.”
See her full review below.
Heart of The Beast
By Valerie M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13
James Belmont (Brad Pitt) and Odin in Heart of the Beast from Paramount Pictures.
I found Heart of the Beast underwhelming. Despite its attempts to tell a meaningful story, the plot is riddled with frustrating inconsistencies, and Brad Pitt’s performance simply isn’t believable.
The storyline follows James Belmont (Brad Pitt), a retired special forces operative traveling through Alaska with his retired army K-9, Odin, or Odey. After flying through a harsh lightning storm, James suffers a heart attack, loses consciousness and crashes into the frozen terrain. Stranded in the woods, he and Odin have to navigate nearly 60 miles through brutal Alaskan wilderness to reach the nearest road for help.
Odin is the true star of the film – delivering a far more expressive performance than his human companion. The one saving grace of the film is its beautiful cinematography by Mauro Fiore, filled with sweeping vistas of rich greens and cool blues.
Sadly, the visual beauty is undermined by meaningless plot twists and pseudo-mystery. The first part of the film is primarily a montage of James and Odin moving through the woods, intercut with moments of life-altering injuries that James casually walks off. Billed as a survival thriller, the film pushes the suspension of disbelief way too far. On top of that, James just does things that make absolutely no logical sense — like getting dry clothes from a water-logged trunk. The pacing doesn’t help it; the opening drags on leaving moments of tension few and far between and frustratingly fleeting. Most disappointing is that we never learn about the key details of James’s life until the final scene – and by then, it’s too late.
Brad Pitt plays James Belmont in Heart of the Beast from Paramount Pictures.
His heartbreaking story and meaningful message are lost beneath an endless loop of YouTube-style camping and nature videos. This movie is not horrible, it’s just vacuous. It failed to give me any reason to care for the characters or their story.
The film’s message is that the bond between a dog and its owner is unbreakable. Note that there is some profanity, various injuries, bloody images and death.
I give Heart of The Beast 2.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 through 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters on September 25, 2026.
Heart of the Beast
By Harper B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13
Heart of the Beast is an intense film that brings a flood of emotions. It’s an action adventure film that gave me an experience like never before.
The story follows a retired special forces soldier, James (Brad Pitt), and a retired special forces K-9, Oden, who set off on a camping adventure in Alaska. Oden and James have an unmistakable bond and are the only family they have. When a storm arrives at their camp site, James decides to fly out on his plane. They crash in the middle of the woods, approximately 58 miles from a road, and have to figure out how to survive together.
This film intertwines survival skills and lifelong friendships. The scenery and cinematography stand out, especially when they are flying the sea plane around the mountainous area. The film was shot on the South Island of New Zealand, which looks a lot like Alaska. Brad Pitt gives a notable performance as James and his relationship with Oden is very believable. The plot is paced well and makes sense. The background music fits the storyline, especially the song “Stand by Me” by Stephen Wilson,which beautifully wraps up the plot. My favorite part of the film is when James and Oden are playing in the field. This scene shows how the relationship between them thrives and cannot be separated. There are many flashbacks and they give us an inside view of their former life in the military.
The film’s message is that when you fall, you can still get back up. We see James climbing up a hill and falling repeatedly, which symbolizes how you can fall down and still get up and make it to your goal. Please note, this film is very violent, gory, and intense.
I give Heart of the Beast 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters on September 25, 2026.
