Going into Heart of the Beast, I was expecting one of those emotional dog films which really pulls on your heartstrings. Films like Togo show how well that bond between man and dog can work, but as a big dog lover with two dogs myself, there is always a bit of worry too. I enjoy the emotional side, but anything involving a dog getting hurt can certainly touch a soft spot of mine. Coming out of this film, I have to be honest, it delivered quite a lot of what I was hoping for. There were some genuinely tense moments, a strong bond at the centre of it, and a dog who, as far as dog acting goes, was brilliant.

Heart of the Beast follows retired veteran James Belmont, played by Brad Pitt, and his retired combat dog, Odin. Both are carrying wounds from their time at war, with Odin having lost a leg and carrying quite a few scars. They seem to be living a fairly solitary life, travelling and camping, although the film doesn't particularly explain why. When James suffers some sort of medical episode whilst flying their plane, they crash and find themselves stranded, with a 50-mile hike to reach a road and get back to civilisation. Sadly for them, the forest has plenty to put in their way. It is part survival adventure, part story about the bond between a man and his dog, with their experiences of war sitting underneath it all.

For me, it was that bond which really made the film work. There wasn't one particular scene where I suddenly believed in their relationship, but lots of little moments which built it up throughout. When things become dangerous, you can really see how much they are looking out for each other and how important that connection is to both of them surviving. Credit to whoever trained Odin, because the dog was a brilliant actor. Brad Pitt was good too, although I wouldn't say this was a performance which particularly stood out for me. It is great to have him in the film, but I think other actors could have played James just as well. He does what the film needs him to do, whilst Odin was the highlight.

Their war wounds and PTSD are more of an undercurrent than the thing driving the story, which I thought worked well in giving both characters some depth. There are flashbacks for James, but also for Odin, and I liked that the film recognised that dogs working in combat can suffer too. It wasn't necessarily about PTSD changing how they survived each obstacle, but more about understanding what they were both carrying with them. Underneath the immediate danger, these are two characters who have already been through quite a lot together.

The film is directed by David Ayer, who has previously worked with Pitt on Fury and also directed Suicide Squad. I think he is a pretty solid director, even if he has had some misses, and this was a good film from him. It is well shot, with the landscapes having quite a raw, authentic feel. The tension worked well too, particularly when they have to cross the rapids. You are genuinely worried about how they are both going to get through these situations, which is important in a film where so much rests on caring about these two characters.

That being said, one thing which took me out of it was the CGI. A lot of the animals they encounter are CGI, and sadly it isn't particularly good CGI either. When the rest of the film looks so authentic, having these animals appear makes the difference quite noticeable. The build-up to those encounters was still tense, and there were moments where I was worried for James and Odin, but the effects took away some of the impact. The film was also slow in places, and fairly early on I felt I could see where the story was heading. Luckily, that didn't stop the ending from being emotional. Cameron Alexander wrote the film, and whilst I am not particularly familiar with his work, I think he has done a good job here overall.

The score was composed by Jared Michael Fry, and I thought it was fine. It built the emotional background well, but there weren't any melodies or themes which made me want to go home and listen to it. It did its job. Interestingly, the musical highlight for me was a Max Richter track used during an emotional part of the film, rather than something composed specifically for it. It wasn't the Richter piece everyone is used to hearing either. That isn't to take anything away from Fry, but Richter is brilliant at bringing out that emotion, and his music worked really well here.

Overall, Heart of the Beast is a really solid film. The CGI could have been better, and the story isn't particularly surprising, but the relationship between James and Odin gives it plenty to care about. For me, it is that loyalty and the bond we have with our dogs which makes it stand out. If you enjoy films about that relationship, I think there is a lot here you will like. Just be prepared for it to touch that soft spot.