Rin Tin Tin, one of the earliest canine stars in Hollywood, was a real-life survivor of World War I. In an interesting parallel, a dog called Odin, one of the two fictional protagonists of the adventure drama “Heart of the Beast” (Paramount), is shown to have emerged — badly scarred — from a much more recent conflict.
Like his predecessor in the days of silent cinema, moreover, Odin — the beast in question — is a German shepherd. Brad Pitt plays Odin’s beloved master, Special Forces Command Sgt. Maj. James Belmont.
Having endured the rigors of battle, as seen in flashbacks, both James and Odin suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, Odin’s signs of physical injury include titanium false teeth and a prosthetic leg.
Hoping to put all that behind them, James — who’s now a civilian — has undertaken an airborne journey across Alaska. But the closely-bound duo face fresh difficulties after James has a sudden heart attack at the wheel of his plane and it crashes in the middle of a vast wilderness.
As James and Odin trek the 50-plus miles to the highway that represents the closest presence of civilization, director David Ayer makes the most of the forbidding landscape’s natural beauty. Screenwriter Cameron Alexander’s script, meanwhile, effectively conveys the heartfelt affection between James and his faithful, courageous and intrepid companion.
The production presents Pitt with a considerable challenge since, with the exception of a brief appearance by J.K. Simmons in the guise of a stranger with whom James accidentally crosses paths, this is essentially a one-man movie. Pitt impressively sustains viewer interest while appearing in virtually every shot for the nearly two-hour running time.
Yet the travails the pair endure are not for the faint-hearted. They include, most harrowingly, being set upon by a pack of ravening wolves.
This sequence, among others, suggests the movie is much too frightening for little kids, though it is possibly acceptable for older teens. Parents making that call will have to consider some wayward language as well as a brief reference to the revenge James exacted on the enemy soldier who cost Odin his incisors.
The film contains harsh but bloodless scenes of combat, images of gory wounds, a scene of urination, about a half-dozen instances each of profanity and milder swearing, a couple of crude terms and a few crass expressions. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
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