The Dog Stars: a good film that lacks a big finale

Ridley Scott returns to science fiction—more fiction than science—with The Dog Stars, a post-apocalyptic film based on the novel of the same name by Peter Heller . Frankly, I enjoyed the film far more than I expected after reading some reviews.

I haven't read the book, so I can't tell you whether it's a good adaptation. What I can judge is the film, and I think it's worth recommending: terrific cinematography, good characters and a much more optimistic tone than usual for this kind of story.

That said, it has two problems, both significant. And they keep it from reaching greater heights.

A story that recalls far too many films and TV series

The story follows Hig (Jacob Elordi), a mechanic and small-plane pilot who has survived a pandemic that wiped out a large part of humanity. He lives in refuge with Bangley (Josh Brolin), a former soldier with whom he's established a more or less safe routine in a world where anyone appearing on the horizon is a de facto threat..

However, a radio transmission sparks his curiosity and makes him wonder whether there's more to life than day-to-day survival.

So far, it's an appealing enough starting point, but hardly original. In fact, watching the film, it's impossible not to think of other similar stories.

Perhaps the most obvious is The Last of Us. The flu pandemic replaces the fungus, but we once again find groups of survivors, gangs that rob and kill, isolated communities and a world where people can be much more dangerous than the disease itself.

Even the music reminded me strongly of the series, both in its sound and in the way it accompanies quieter moments.

There's also a touch of The Walking Dead — you'll know what I mean when you see certain situations — and some enemies, with their shaved heads and tattoos, look as though they've stepped straight out of Mad Max. Even some action scenes involving the small plane could easily belong in that franchise.

Finally, although it was the first thing that sprang to mind during the film's opening moments, the setting and the dog accompanying and protecting the protagonist recall I Am Legend..

As I said, the film is built from many elements we've seen before. But I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. The problem would be using them badly, and here Ridley Scott uses them to tell a pretty entertaining story with no grander ambitions.

What does happen is that it's very predictable. If you've spent a few years watching stories about survivors after the end of the world, you'll probably guess quite a few things before they happen.

Wonderful cinematography and magnificent flying scenes

Where I think the film really shines is visually. As ever with Ridley.

The outdoor scenes are superb, with natural landscapes that convey the feeling of an abandoned world where nature is reclaiming the ground.

There are plenty of shots worth admiring, but my favourites are the scenes of the Cessna in flight. The small plane plays a major role, and Scott makes excellent use of its visual potential.

The flights over mountains, forests and vast, almost uninhabited stretches of land are a real pleasure. They also highlight the contrast between the beauty of the scenery and the terrible situation the characters face.

I also enjoyed the action scenes. They're well shot, believable within the film's premise and suitably tense. 

And thankfully, it's not all gunfire and chases. There's room for silence, for observing the characters and for enjoying their surroundings.

In fact, one of the things I liked most is precisely that different pace. The Dog Stars isn't in as much of a hurry to get to the next spectacular scene as many films in the genre, which sets it apart from the other stories mentioned earlier.

Good characters, though they could use more development

Jacob Elordi works well as Hig, a protagonist marked by loss who still retains some curiosity about the world and the possibility of finding something worthwhile. His looks and silences say plenty without dialogue.

I also liked Josh Brolin as Bangley, his fellow survivor. His way of dealing with the apocalypse is very different from Hig's, and that contrast keeps their relationship from being idyllic and makes it interesting.

The rest of the cast does the job, although I do think the film could have devoted more time to certain characters. In particular, to Pops, the female lead's father, played by Guy Pearce. He's a character with potential, but he's underdeveloped.  

Overall, the impression is that the characters work better thanks to what the actors convey than to the depth of the script.

On the other hand, there's something that sets the film apart: its optimistic tone, embodied above all by Hig and, to a lesser extent, by Cima, the young woman played by Margaret Qualley..

Of course, it also shows just how wretched people can become when social rules disappear, when violence, looting and unpleasant characters are everywhere. But the film leaves room for hope.

The other problem: where's the big finale?

So far, so good. We have an entertaining story, magnificent cinematography, characters that work and effective action scenes. Predictable and derivative, but good.

But then the ending arrives.

And the credits roll.

And I was left thinking: “That's it?”

This, to me, is the big problem with The Dog Stars..

It's not that the ending is badly told. It's that the film had prepared me for something bigger than it ultimately delivers..

I missed a final big battle, a memorable confrontation, some heroic sacrifice or simply a scene that would bring the story to a more powerful close. Something that would get you off the sofa feeling you'd just seen a great ending.

And it's particularly annoying because we're talking about Ridley Scott, the director of Gladiator and Alien. A man who knows perfectly well how to construct spectacular endings and give them all the force they need.

Here he shows he still has a great feel for action, but the film as a whole lacks an epic quality. At least the kind that makes a film stick in your memory. Without it, the impression is of a film that will come and go without leaving a mark.

I don't know whether the novel ends the same way or tells it differently, but the film's ending left me cold.

Conclusion: a good film that lacks punch

The Dog Stars seems much better to me than some of the reviews it has received suggest..

It has excellent cinematography, magnificent flying scenes, interesting characters, a different pace from other apocalypse films and a tone that suggests there are still reasons to keep going.

Its problems are clear too: it's predictable, borrows too many elements from other stories and some characters could be better developed. But I think the ending weighs heaviest. After building that entire world, the conclusion deserved something much more powerful.

And it's a shame, because Ridley Scott had all the ingredients on the table. He just needed to turn up the heat.

The best of The Dog Stars

• The cinematography, the landscapes and the magnificent shots of the Cessna.
• The action scenes, well shot and full of tension.
• A more optimistic tone than that of similar stories.
• An unhurried pace that lets you enjoy the characters and surroundings.

The worst of The Dog Stars

• An overly predictable story with many familiar elements.
• Some characters need more development, especially the one played by Guy Pearce.
• An ending that lacks force and one final memorable set piece.

The Dog Stars: film details

Feature	Information
Original title	The Dog Stars
Title in Spain	La constelación del perro
Director	Ridley Scott
Screenplay	Mark L. Smith
Based on	The novel by Peter Heller
Year	2026
Release in Spain	26 August 2026
Running time	118 minutes
Genre	Post-apocalyptic thriller, science fiction and drama
Cast	Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, Benedict Wong and Allison Janney
Production	20th Century Studios