It's only fair that 11 years after Leonardo DiCaprio took on a bear in The Revenant, his Once Upon a Time in Hollywood co-star, Brad Pitt, did the same in Heart of the Beast.
The new thriller, which was directed by Suicide Squad filmmaker David Ayer, follows a retired Special Forces veteran who crashes his plane and is stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with his military combat dog Odin (Uber). They have to make a 58-mile trek across the wilderness to safety with minimal supplies and completely on their own.
Heart of the Beast is one of the most thrilling survival movies in recent memory. There is a lot of heart (pun intended), and it's one of Pitt's most tender roles in a while.
This is what the moviegoing experience is all about. The tension in the room is palpable, and Odin has everyone in the palm of his paw.
Heart of the Beast review
It doesn't take long for Heart of the Beast to get rolling. James Belmont (Brad Pitt) travels to the beautiful Alaskan wilderness. Along the way, he runs into Watkins (J. K. Simmons), another traveler who leaves him an important piece of literature.
As James and Odin fly through a storm, he suffers a heart attack, crashing his plane. He and his dog have to make the 58-mile trip back to civilization across the wilderness.
For the most part, Heart of the Beast feels real, likely because it was shot on location. Authenticity is key, and while there are a few plot conveniences, James really goes through it. He's not a superhero, but he's the closest thing to it, given his military experience.
Ayer deserves a lot of credit. He has written some great movies, like Training Day and The Fast and the Furious, and has directed others like Fury (which also starred Pitt). At the same time, he has made some terrible movies as well (namely Suicide Squad).
His last two collaborations with Jason Statham, The Beekeeper and A Working Man, showed Ayer can still have fun. Heart of the Beast feels like his return to serious filmmaking after a couple of interesting side quests.
There are breathtaking shots in Heart of the Beast. Mauro Fiore previously shot movies like Avatar (granted, he's also worked on Spider-Man: No Way Home and Madame Web), so he knows how to make the most of beautiful landscapes.
And there are countless thrilling set pieces. Heart of the Beast is the perfect big-screen experience, not because of huge CGI-filled action scenes but because of the realistic danger James finds himself in.
Ayer and Fiore have the audience in the palm of their hands in Heart of the Beast. The twists and turns make the movie a breezy 101-minute watch.
Brad Pitt's aura does some heavy lifting
Pitt is also really good in the role. Like him or not, he has an undeniably cool aura, something he used to the max in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
He genuinely seems to love Odin (how could you not?), and that relationship carries Heart of the Beast. His acting chops are on full display in the final act of the movie, which will break your heart.
It'd be hyperbolic to call this his best performance. However, it has to be up there for one of his most authentic roles to date, which is impressive, considering he's four decades into his career.
Should you watch Heart of the Beast?
Heart of the Beast is one of the best thrillers in 2026. Ayer returns to form with this flick, thanks to the beautiful cinematography from Fiore and the set pieces.
There are movies and shows that use an adorable character to their advantage (i.e., Groot in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies or Grogu in The Mandalorian), but Heart of the Beast's Odin deserves his flowers.
Yes, he's adorable, but the movie doesn't rely on his cuteness to move merchandise. Pitt appears to have had a genuine connection with the dogs who played Odin.
Heart of the Beast is a must-see theatrical experience. It will have you on the edge of your seat the entire runtime, and Pitt delivers one of his best recent performances. It's heartfelt and genuine.
Grade: B+
Heart of the Beast is in theaters.