Ridley Scotts The Dog Stars Adapt Adaptation Fails Colorado Novel

Director Ridley Scott's film adaptation of the post-apocalyptic novel "The Dog Stars" opens in IMAX and standard theaters on Friday, Aug. 28, featuring an A-list cast that includes Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin.

Based on Colorado author Peter Heller's 2012 debut novel, the cinematic thriller follows survivors of a devastating global pandemic who are immune to a world-ending virus, though they are collectively referred to as "cockroaches."

Actor Jacob Elordi plays Hig, a former mechanic turned pilot living at a deserted airstrip in Erie alongside Bangley, an anxious former Marine portrayed by Josh Brolin. Hig frequently pilots his propeller plane to Denver to scavenge for food, fuel, and medical supplies while armed with an automatic rifle.

Although the original narrative is set in Colorado, the production was filmed in the Italian Alps. As a result, the movie's foggy, high-altitude alpine terrain and broad rivers double for locations like Denver, Erie, and Grand Junction, visually diverging from actual Rocky Mountain landscapes.

The narrative shifts when Hig's dog, Jasper, dies during an airstrip raid. Spurred by a faint radio transmission, Hig ventures outward in his aircraft, eventually becoming stranded in a remote field. Meanwhile, Bangley remains at the compound to fight off incoming raiders.

During his journey, Hig encounters a father and daughter named Pops and Cima, played by Guy Pearce and Margaret Qualley. The characters form an impromptu family dynamic as they navigate their shared trauma.

Reflecting on the nature of their joint loss, Cima notes the collective weight of their post-apocalyptic reality.

"No one has a monopoly on grief," said Cima, as portrayed by Margaret Qualley.

The two-hour feature film includes supporting appearances by Benedict Wong as a caretaker at a Mennonite camp and Allison Janney in a third-act role. Screenwriter Mark L. Smith penned the script for the 20th Century Studios release.