"Heart of the Beast" is a wilderness survival drama directed by David Ayer, marking an unexpected departure from his usual urban crime narratives. Brad Pitt stars as James Belmont, a retired Special Forces officer who becomes stranded 58 miles from civilisation during an Alaskan retreat with his combat dog, Odin, and must trek through remote terrain to reach safety. The film demonstrates strong performances from both Pitt and his canine co-star, blending survival storytelling with subtle exploration of veteran isolation, whilst the reviewer praises Ayer's technical craftsmanship in creating a convincing man-versus-nature narrative.

The story unfolds through flashback, beginning with an ominous opening before revealing James's initial retreat with Odin, a three-legged German Shepherd with a prosthetic limb. Stranded after losing their plane, the pair must cover approximately 8 to 10 miles daily through forests, mountains and plains with limited supplies and foraging opportunities. Shot in New Zealand, the film maintains a tone resembling old-school Disney cinema—wholesome and tranquil—despite Ayer's reputation for depicting violence and grit, with the reviewer emphasising how the director achieves an authentic survival experience whilst depicting a protagonist untouched by overt war trauma.