Welcome to the latest edition of She Reads movie reviews in partnership with The Reel Obsessed. We’re Abby and Kelcy, co-creators of The Reel Obsessed, and we’re excited to bring our film expertise and fandom to the She Reads and She Watches community. We watched The Dog Stars opening night and can’t wait to share our reactions with you. We hadn’t read this book or seen a ton of promotion for this film. We went in with few expectations…and we are so grateful for it. This movie was full of surprises. Let’s dive in!

Movie Title:
The Dog Stars

Genre:
Action/Sci-Fi

Synopsis:
It’s been years since the world changed. Cities deserted. Chaos erupted. Humanity is dwindling, and what’s left of it is brutal. Outside of what was once Denver, Hig (Jacob Elordi) and his dog, Jasper, navigate this new world. Their one companion is Bangley (Josh Brolin), a veteran and combat expert, who has been prepared for an apocalypse before it was even a reality. Though they get along to defend their land from the Reapers, the faction of people who aim to destroy anything left of humanity, their views on the world are different. Bangley’s goal is survival, kill or be killed. While Hig hopes for something more. He wants to live, not just survive.

His hope grows when he hears the muffled message through his airplane’s radio. He can’t make out the transmission completely, but he hears two words: Grand Junction. Could there be people there? Are there other survivors in Grand Junction, Colorado?

Hig decides to find out.

Along his journey, he meets a farmer, Pops (Guy Pearce), and his daughter, Cima (Margaret Qualley). People are hard to trust in these desperate times, but after some hesitation, the three grow to respect each other. And Cima and Hig begin to develop an even closer bond. After a series of intense events, they continue on to Grand Junction together. Their adventure is filled with intensity, brutality and lots of blood.

Struggling with grief and guilt over his life before the world shifted, we follow Hig’s personal story as he pursues the one thing more dangerous than the Reapers who haunt the cities, his hope for a better world and the possibility of starting life again.

This film is directed by Ridley Scott (The Martian, The Gladiator) and the screenplay is by
Mark L. Smith (The Revenant, The Boys in the Boat). The Dog Stars has a run time of 1 hour and 58 minutes. The cast includes: Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, Allison Janney and Benedict Wong.

Bookish Blurb:
This film adaptation is based on Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, The Dog Stars. Heller told People Magazine that he was “blown away” by the movie and that it left him in tears seeing his book come to life in a different medium. He has also been involved in the press tour for this movie. Always a good sign when an author approves of the film adaptation!

Film Facts:
Though set in Colorado, a majority of The Dog Stars was filmed in Italy. According to Travel + Leisure Asia, Rome and rural Italy served as the backdrop for the film’s stunning scenery. The landscape plays a major role in the film. In the opening scene, we see wide shots of giant valleys and striking mountain ranges as Hig flies his small airplane with Jasper. We’re surprised it wasn’t actually filmed in Colorado. But hey, we wouldn’t say no to a trip to Italy either!

According to production notes obtained by Washington City Paper, the Belgian Malinois Jasper, was played by three different canines. Give these doggo actors an award…and some belly rubs!

Who is The Dog Stars for?

The Dog Stars is the perfect movie for anyone who loves atmospheric, character-driven films that blend post-apocalyptic survival with emotional storytelling. It’s especially suited for audiences who appreciate beautiful cinematography, complex characters and powerful acting performances. If you value stories that explore the emotional balance of being human — dealing with grief, loss, loneliness, love, and the human need for connection — this is a must see.
For fans of Ridley Scott’s work (Alien, Gladiator, The Martian, Black Hawk Down, and so many more!), this is a strong addition to his catalogue of films.

The cast alone is worthy of a trip to the movie theater! If you’re a fan of Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, or Guy Pearce, you are going to want to experience these performances .

Abby’s Take

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

Character to obsess over:

Hig, of course! Jacob Elordi delivers one of the best performances of his career. It’s a tie for me right now between his performance as The Creature in Frankenstein and this role in The Dog Stars. He is emotional and precious, and you will want to give him a big hug as you watch this. He goes through so much turmoil, but still remains true to his humanity. He is brave, smart, raw and a true protagonist to root for! And to think, this all started with The Kissing Booth! We’ve come so far…

Abby’s Review:

Not only did we get the action and intensity (and violence!) to be expected in a post-apocalyptic movie but we also got something even better: heart. The Dog Stars successfully depicts grief, loss, friendship, bravery, fear and love in a rundown world.

This entire cast delivered raw and powerful performances. Josh Brolin embodied his character and provided much needed levity. Margaret Qualley was refreshing. Guy Pearce was real. Allison Janney was chilling. The casting was phenomenal and you will not be disappointed in these performances.

My only downside was that I left with questions regarding the backstory of this new society. How did we get here? Without getting into spoilers, I also had some remaining questions about Grand Junction. Though, I imagine you get more understanding in the book, which makes me really excited to read it.

Heartfelt messages, beautiful scenery, edge-of-your-seat action and a hero you want to see succeed: one of my favorite movie-going experiences of the year. I teared up multiple times and it truly made me reflect on my relationships. I left this movie feeling a renewed sense of needing to enjoy the moment, telling my loved ones I love them and of course, spending all the time I can with my dogs.

Kelcy’s Take

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

Character to obsess over:

I can’t get enough of Josh Brolin (ever!) but especially as Bangley — Hig’s human survival buddy. Bangley is the ultimate alpha male tough guy. He thrives in the post-apocalyptic world and lives to defend their land and belongings. While Brolin typically excels in these types of roles, what I was most impressed with was the emotional arc of this character. Bangley’s ending had me tearing up… which was a complete surprise to me!

I truly loved every single one of these characters and the role that they played in the story.

Kelcy’s Review:

Phenomenal! Ridley Scott continues to prove why he is one of the greats, delivering a film that is epic in scale, extremely unsettling, and yet breathtakingly beautiful. This film is deeply intimate in its exploration of how it feels to survive in a post-apocalyptic society.

The casting is perfect! Truly, no notes. Jacob Elordi delivers his best performance yet, bringing an incredible amount of vulnerability, restraint, and courage to Hig. Margaret Qualley steps into a fresh, grounded role as Cima, and it was such a treat to see Guy Pearce owning the screen in a role that is perfect for him! And you already know how I feel about Josh Brolin….

What surprised me most about The Dog Stars is just how poetic it truly is. Beneath the post-apocalyptic setting and survivalist story is something much more emotional: a meditation on loss, love, loneliness, and finding a reason to keep going. There are moments where the film feels almost dreamlike, allowing the intentional moments of silence, the music, and the aerial imagery to communicate as much as the dialogue does.

At its core, The Dog Stars is a giant love letter to grief — not because it glorifies loss, but because it understands how deeply grief is connected to love. It’s about carrying the people and the life you’ve lost with you while still finding reasons to move forward, while also reminding you to appreciate every little moment you have. I will be cherishing my drives to the grocery store a little more than usual, and being as present as I can with my loved ones (especially my dog!)

The Reel Obsessed Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

The Dog Stars will take you on both an action and emotional adventure. We want to hear from you! What did you think of The Dog Stars? Especially for those of you who have read the book. Make sure to follow and comment on @shereadsdotcom and @thereelobsessed accounts on Instagram to let us know. See you at the movies!