Heart of the Beast is a survival adventure starring Brad Pitt as a former US special forces veteran stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with his retired service dog, Odin.
Pitt plays Belmont, a self-reliant veteran who lives in remote Alaska and travels by seaplane with Odin, a German shepherd who served alongside him. The pair are forced into a dangerous journey across difficult terrain after a dramatic event changes their otherwise isolated life.
Odin is central to the story rather than simply accompanying Belmont. The dog helps him survive the journey, while Belmont is also responsible for protecting Odin. The film uses visual effects for some of the animals and wilderness dangers encountered along the way.
The cast also includes JK Simmons as a former goldminer and Anna Lambe in a role connected to the story’s opening. Cameron Alexander wrote the screenplay and David Ayer directed the film.
The film draws on themes of companionship and loneliness, while its remote Alaskan setting and survival elements recall the tradition of wilderness adventure associated with writer Jack London.
Heart of the Beast was released in Australia on 24 September 2026, with UK and US releases scheduled for 25 September.
