Sir Ridley Scott’s latest film The Dog Stars presents a dystopian narrative centered on a pandemic, environmental degradation, and societal collapse. Based on Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, the science fiction feature follows Jacob Elordi’s character Hig, a former mechanic turned pilot who spends his days flying over Colorado alongside his dog Jasper. The story is set in the 2030s, a period when only those immune to a deadly flu have survived. The ensemble cast also includes Guy Pearce, Margaret Qualley, and Josh Brolin.
Elordi expressed that the film explores “the human condition” through characters living in an apocalyptic scenario while still searching for meaning and hope. He reflected on the film’s examination of human dissatisfaction, noting that people frequently question what they lack despite having access to basic comforts and social connections. The production drew thematic parallels to the Covid pandemic through its depiction of abandoned urban landscapes and the protagonist’s constant struggle to find resources such as food and medicine. Elordi, who earned his first Oscar nomination earlier this year for Frankenstein, described the experience of filming as surreal given how closely the fictional scenario mirrored contemporary concerns.
Both Elordi and co-star Guy Pearce, who portrays a survivor named Pops, highlighted the film’s commentary on privilege and environmental awareness. Pearce emphasized the importance of recognizing the advantages of modern life, while Elordi pointed to imagery of environmental recovery within the film as a symbol of redemption and regrowth. Both actors drew connections to their Australian upbringings, noting exposure to natural disasters in their home regions, which informed their perspectives on climate-related anxieties presented in the narrative.
Critical reception has been mixed. The Guardian awarded three stars, describing the film as intermittently fascinating, while The Hollywood Reporter offered a more favorable assessment, calling it appealingly mellow. Empire gave two stars, suggesting the film attempts to examine survival versus thriving without fully committing to its thematic conclusions. The Telegraph provided three stars, noting that action sequences offer brief moments of lighter entertainment within Scott’s broader apocalyptic framework.
Scott indicated that the film drew inspiration from both the Covid-19 pandemic and the original novel’s context following the 2008 financial crisis. He reflected on his own childhood experiences during World War II, describing how those memories informed his approach to depicting catastrophe. The Dog Stars began UK theatrical distribution on 28 August.
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