The Dog Stars (2026) Review

Whenever Ridley Scott directs a movie, it is one that should be seen and I found the time to watch The Dog Stars in the cinema and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees a virus destroy the majority of humanity, but a grieving mechanic aims to look for a better life. 

Main Character

Jacob Elordi plays Hig and I thought he did a great job. It definitely took its time to make me care but as you learn more about the character and see Elordi's confidence grow it makes this a good lead character. 

Supporting Characters

Margaret Qualley plays Cima and I thought she was really good. We meet her character a bit later into the film but she adds some much needed energy and her chemistry with Elordi is really good. 

Josh Brolin plays Bangley here and he was just awesome. Brolin was clearly having a great time filming this and I thought he showed the most charisma. To be honest, I kind of wish he was in the film less but he is still entertaining when he is here. 

Guy Pearce plays Pops and he is also a great part of the cast. He comes in alongside Cima and I think he added a lot an had a strong relationship and dynamic with both Elordi and Qualley. 

Story

The story is a real mixed bag and that is going to be something to be said for the next three sections. 

It does a really good job of exploring grief and how humans react in a post apocalyptic world. However, the overall story is very drab and not cohesive at all. The side plot with Brolin is bizarre to say the least and at the end I wasn't really sure what exactly the point of the overall journey. 

Script

The script is okay, it does have some good emotional writing and makes you care about a few of the characters. But it just doesn't create a great story and it felt like a bit of a drab script that lacked a real punch which had the potential to really deliver. 

Style

The film looks good, but the style is easily the weakest part of the film. The pacing is incredibly slow and it felt like a much longer film then it actually is. It has a weird conflict of tone and it was just a weird watch in terms of its direction. 

Overall 

Overall, The Dog Stars is an Above Average Film. It has really good acting but falls pretty short on everything else. It is one of Ridley Scott's weakest films and it is a disappointment that is only worth giving a go when it comes to streaming and you like the book. 

Rating - 6/10