Heart of the Beast

Although it never explicitly defines its title character, Heart of the Beast contains more than its share of physical and metaphorical hurdles that are, well, beastly.

Set against a lush visual backdrop, this somewhat manipulative survival saga from director David Ayer (Suicide Squad) is another celebration of the love and loyalty between humans and their canine companions.

Even if it lacks much fresh insight into the effects of PTSD, or resilience and catharsis during times of crisis, the film tugs at the heartstrings primarily because of fully committed performances by Brad Pitt and his four-legged sidekick.

Pitt plays James, a retired Special Forces pilot who has retreated from public life into the Alaskan wilderness with his military combat, Odin. Background details are vague, although we can accept that they were battlefield heroes in some capacity during various Middle East deployments.

The beauty and serenity of their surroundings contrasts with James’ inner turmoil. Odin, too, is burdened by lingering physical and emotional scars. Together they’ve embraced a rustic life with virtually no human interaction.

The lone exception is a brief encounter with a philosophical fellow traveler (J.K. Simmons) who James initially sees as a nuisance. “There’s nothing like the quiet of nature, all to yourself,” he muses.

However, a plane crash into freezing water during a thunderstorm leaves James and Odin stranded, injured, far from civilization, and lacking resources. Facing treacherous terrain and little hope for rescue, suddenly the solitude isn’t so alluring, and their internal trauma becomes a secondary concern.

Ayer’s depiction of the crash and its immediate aftermath is particularly harrowing. But the screenplay begins to feel like a checklist of obstacles — from the rugged elements to wild animal encounters to an obligatory perilous river crossing — designed to test the duo’s perseverance, resourcefulness, pain tolerance, and dwindling batch of makeshift supplies.

The film conveniently overlooks some questions that could have been answered with more fleshed-out narrative context.  Still, it pushes the right buttons in conjunction with Pitt, whose quietly powerful portrayal generates sympathy despite acting almost exclusively by himself.

Slight yet profound, Heart of the Beast resonates as a inter-species story of lost souls whose survival is motivated by selflessness and devotion to one another.

Rated PG-13, 101 minutes.