Films about dogs instantly tug at my heart strings. The love and loyalty of a pup is an encouragement through life’s uncertainties. Heart of the Beast, directed by David Ayer, struck a chord in me because at the heart of this thrilling film is deep, sacrificial love.
Special Forces veteran James Belmont (Brad Pitt) spends his retirement with his also retired combat German Shepard, Odin. When their plane crashes, Belmont and Odin are pinned up against the odds of wild forest creatures as they try to make it back to the main road. Cinematographer Mauro Fiore does a great job at capturing the beautiful forests and vast mountain ridges shot in New Zealand’s South Island. This wilderness becomes Belmont’s and Odin’s wild adventure.
For all the forces Belmont and Odin face, they seem to be well equipped to handle them. Yet as the film goes on, you get a deep sense that time is running out. This survival thriller keeps the viewer in intense suspense.
The film also embodies the effects of war—the sleepless nights and the sacrifice those who serve make. What moved me most throughout the story was Belmont’s love and protection of Odin. His love for Odin seems to be the reason he pushes himself to keep going. Their story shows us what it means to have a companion who will fight for you and stand between you and danger.
I cannot help but be reminded that this is who God is to us. As helpless as we are in our human condition, God protects and looks out for us. He is our shield, our armor, and our safe haven, carrying us when we don’t have the strength to stand.
I once heard a quote written by Steve Oedekerk that says, “A strong man stands up for himself; a stronger man stands up for others.” Maybe the love we receive from others is measured by their willingness to put their own needs aside and put ours first, setting aside their own discomfort so that we might be comforted. Christ set aside his comfort and glory to meet us in our humanity and died for us so that we might live. This film reminded me that we are fragile human beings. If not for our Savior Jesus Christ, where would we be?
Heart of the Beast is a slow-burning film, but by the end, you might be in tears.
(Rated PG-13 for intense violence, bloody injury images, peril, and some language. In theatres.)
About the Author
Isabelle Brown is a writer from Brampton, Ontario and a student at Redeemer University, where she is a reporter for The Crown. Her non-writing interests include painting and sketching.