The film already officially debuted a week ago at the international film festival in San Sebastián. It opens in worldwide release in two days, 24 September 2026.
And we hasten to share our opinion with you. “Heart of a Beast” is definitely one of the most sensual dramas of the year. So you can boldly go to the cinema. And also you can watch it at home, and even with the whole family.
The lead role in the picture was played by Brad Pitt, and a German Shepherd named Uber, who in the past was a real mountain rescuer. Odin was played by four real dogs — a father and his three sons.
Also in the cast — J.K. Simmons and Anna Lamb.
Since in the editorial office Gaya if there are people who have a connection with German Shepherds, then we can say that the duo of Odin — that is, Uber and his sons — and James, played by Brad Pitt turned out incredibly realistic and acted with exceptional precision.
First, the bond between the owner and the German Shepherd is conveyed almost one hundred percent. Second, Uber on screen is completely relaxed next to Pitt: there is no sense that we are watching merely a trained dog performing commands. He reacts naturally, calmly, attentively — exactly the way a dog behaves next to a person he truly trusts.
And this is no accident. The dogs for the role of Odin were sought very carefully. In the end, the main performer was Uber — a large German Shepherd who had actually worked in search-and-rescue service. And he was helped by three sons — each was stronger in certain scenes and tasks.
That is, what we see between James and Odin is not only acting. The connection between them on screen truly exists.
And one more thing can be said with certainty: Brad Pitt truly loves dogs — and dogs, it seems, return his affection.
Alaska, which is actually New Zealand
The action takes place amid the harsh landscapes of Alaska, but the film was shot in New Zealand.
And it all looks truly magnificent: mountains, glaciers, rivers, forests — nature here becomes practically the third main character.
By its formal features, this is a survival film: former special forces soldier James Belmont and his combat dog Odin find themselves far from civilization after a plane crash and try to get out of the wilderness.
But it quickly becomes clear that "The Heart of the Beast" is not only about survival.
It is a very sensitive, sensual and human story about trust, loneliness, trauma, devotion and that special bond between a person and a dog that is hard to explain in words to someone who has never experienced it.
That is precisely why the film works emotionally far more powerfully than one would expect from an ordinary survival thriller.
Brad Pitt is magnificent. But the dog is still a dangerous rival
Brad Pitt here is truly magnificent.
Dramatic roles have always been his strong suit — just recall "Troy", "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", "Legends of the Fall" or "Babylon".
Here he has almost no opportunity to hide behind flashy dialogue or a huge acting ensemble: for most of the film, beside him there is only nature and the dog.
And he handles it beautifully.
We would quite calmly give Pitt an "Oscar" for such work.
But there is one problem.
Uber.
In joking — and not so joking — press reviews, people are already writing that the dog literally steals the film from Brad Pitt.
And if animals were awarded an "Oscar", then Uber would have very serious chances of going home with a statuette.
All the more so since Pitt already has his own awards.
He could share some. 😄
And yet this is not just a "movie about a dog"
The film keeps you in suspense almost until the very end.
There is plenty of danger here, nature, physical trials and moments when it seems that everything is about to go completely wrong.
But at the same time the film does not turn into an endless chain of chases and attacks.
Behind the outward harshness of the story, a very simple thought remains all the time: sometimes two living beings literally pull each other out of the darkness.
And that is precisely what matters more here than any action.
The result is a very precise, finely calibrated and emotional drama, in which almost everything is in its place — the pacing, the landscapes, the music, the silence, Pitt's gaze and Odin's behaviour.
Yes, the film is measured.
Yes, formally it is a survival story.
But thanks to how well the bond is conveyed between man and dog, it becomes far bigger than its genre.
And a little spoiler from us: Odin will not die.
So you can watch it calmly — and with the whole family.
Gaya's rating: 9/10.
And for all lovers of German shepherds — and Brad Pitt too 😄 — a viewing is practically mandatory.
