Heart of the Beast, rated PG-13
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Heart of the Beast is an intense survival film starring two-time Oscar winner Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in….Hollywood, 12 Years a Slave), as retired U.S. Special Forces military veteran James Belmont. The film was directed by David Ayer, and written by Cameron Alexander.
The film follows Belmont, who lives with his retired combat German Shepherd dog, Odin. The two have travelled to the far reaches of the Alaskan wilderness (the film was actually shot in New Zealand’s South Island), in a pontoon plane. The incredible bond between James and Odin is key to this story.
Both James and Odin are suffering from PTSD. Throughout the film James has flashbacks to when his fellow soldiers were lost in war. Odin too has nightmares.
One of the few characters in the film other than James and Odin is Watkins, played by Oscar winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash), who spends a day and night with Belmont and Odin. He leaves before daylight and we don’t see him again.
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