Critics and Fans React to Ridley Scott’s New Film ‘The Dog Stars’
Ridley Scott’s latest film, The Dog Stars, is generating buzz online after its world premiere in London, with early reactions from screening attendees painting a picture of a visually striking but somewhat divisive addition to the veteran director’s filmography.
The post-apocalyptic thriller, based on Peter Heller’s 2012 novel of the same name, held its world premiere on August 20 at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, with Scott and much of the cast walking the red carpet, including Jacob Elordi’s canine co-star, Rak Jasper. The film is set after a devastating flu pandemic has wiped out most of humanity, following Hig, a former civilian pilot played by Elordi, and his ex-Marine companion Bangley, played by Josh Brolin, as they attempt to survive in a fractured world. When Hig receives a mysterious radio transmission, he sets out beyond the safety of the isolated homestead he and Bangley have built, in search of hope and remaining humanity. The film also stars Margaret Qualley, Allison Janney, Guy Pearce and Benedict Wong, and is scheduled for a global theatrical release on August 28.
Following a series of press screenings held over the past week by 20th Century Studios, attendees were permitted to share brief reactions on social media, offering an early, if unofficial, temperature check ahead of full critical reviews, which remain under embargo until August 25.
Several of the reactions have leaned positive, with some describing the film as unexpectedly moving. One reviewer highlighted how the film explores the difficulty of finding a sense of home in a broken world, while a film journalist described being taken by surprise, crediting Scott with once again tapping into resonant, contemporary themes. Another critic said the film felt quiet and contemplative in ways they hadn’t anticipated, pointing to unexpected bursts of ferocity and violence, and praising both the score and the ensemble cast as standout elements of the production.
Not every reaction has been glowing, however. One entertainment reporter noted that certain moments lifted directly from the source novel felt somewhat forced into the film’s pacing, though they added that the second half of the movie picks up considerably in intensity and quality, with characters developed well enough to make the story’s more unpredictable turns land effectively. A UK-based journalist admitted going in with low expectations, which the film ultimately exceeded, while still suggesting that Scott appeared to be coasting to some degree creatively. That reviewer nonetheless praised several standout sequences and described the film as offering a surprisingly optimistic take on the post-apocalyptic genre. A French journalist who had also interviewed Scott about the project offered a brief but enthusiastic endorsement of the finished film.
Commentators have noted that The Dog Stars represents something of a departure for Scott, whose career has spanned science fiction epics such as Alien and Blade Runner, historical dramas including Gladiator and The Last Duel, and true-crime-inspired stories like American Gangster and House of Gucci. At 88 years old, Scott continues to produce feature films at a steady pace, and while early box office projections for The Dog Stars suggest more modest mainstream turnout compared to some of his earlier blockbusters, the film has nonetheless generated significant anticipation among longtime fans of his work.
With full critical reviews still to come, audiences will have to wait a little longer to see whether The Dog Stars cements itself as another high point in Scott’s decades-spanning career, or joins the more mixed entries in his extensive filmography.
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