The reviews are in for Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic thriller “The Dog Stars” and the results…aren’t good.
With 66 reviews counted, the film sits at just 39% (5.3/10) on Rotten Tomatoes along with a 51/100 on Metacritic.
To put that in perspective, the film sits about on par with Scott’s “Hannibal” and “Kingdom of Heaven” theatrical cut – a little below his “Robin Hood” and a little above his “The Counselor”.
Reviews indicate star Jacob Elordi is good, but let down considerably by a very rote script which feels overly familiar and has little to say or for its threadbare characters to do. Here’s a sampling:
“Jacob Elordi leads with introspective movie-star magnetism that evokes the heyday of Kevin Costner, while cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt’s panoramic vistas lend the unhurried but engrossing story a restorative grace.” – David Rooney, THR
“So not quite a return to form, but for Scott, now 88, this strange flight of apocalyptic fancy proves there’s plenty of bite in the old dog yet.” – Nick Howells, London Evening Standard
“It is ultimately redeemed by the veteran director’s careful attention to his characters, who are far more engaging in their shared grief than when combating the sorts of foes one expects in this kind of film.” – Tim Grierson, Screen
“No amount of aesthetic splendor can compensate for the derivativeness of the director’s latest, a post-apocalyptic yarn that’s stitched together from the decomposing parts of its genre ancestors.” – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
“The quiet watchfulness of Elordi and his eyes make him ever a captivating actor, but even the towering sadness of his silhouette can’t rescue material that inevitably heads straight into its own apocalypse.” – Ryan Lattanzio, Indiewire
“This is a surprisingly low-energy, low-incident blockbuster; you’d appreciate its mellow, character-oriented approach if it gave you any real characters to hold onto.” – Guy Lodge, Variety
“In a world of seven Walking Dead shows, the beats are now far too familiar, and there’s nothing new or notable here to conjure anything but deja vu.” – Benjamin Lee, The Guardian
“This messy look at the end of the world isn’t Scott’s darkest film, but it’s one of his worst misfires.” – Monica Castillo, AV Club
The R-rated “The Dog Stars” is currently slated to open on August 28th and runs for 118 minutes.
