The surprisingly ruminative post-apocalyptic thriller “The Dog Stars” may not find itself topping many people’s list of Ridley Scott favorites. But there’s more to this sometimes grim yet unexpectedly soulful dystopian drama than you might think. Yes it’s immaculately shot in ways that we have come to expect from a Ridley Scott movie. But it’s the deeply rooted themes and the near methodical way Scott explores them that sets “The Dog Stars” apart.

At 88 years old, the legendary Scott is showing no signs of slowing down. “The Dog Stars” sees him employing many of his signature techniques while also taking some ambitious new swings. It’s set within a richly detailed world that’s full of atmosphere. It has moments of nerve-racking thrills and bursts of intense action that are remarkably captured through Scott’s masterful presentation. But it surprises most by the questions he prompts, especially as the themes more clearly come into focus.

Written for the screen by Mark L. Smith, “The Dog Stars” is an adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 novel of the same name. It takes place in 2035, a few years after a devastating flu virus wiped out most of humanity. As a result, society crumbled, leaving civilization hanging in the balance. The few survivors who remain have mostly separated themselves from each other, living alone in hopes of surviving. It’s a bleak, desolate, and dangerous existence.

Hig (Jacob Elordi) lives on an old abandoned airfield nestled in a scenic Colorado valley outside of what’s left of Erie. Before the deadly pandemic, he was a civilian pilot and mechanic. Joined by his beloved dog Jasper, Hig passes time flying his old patched together Cessna into the remains of Denver. There he relives painful memories by visiting his old home before scavenging for supplies. On his way back to the airfield, he drops a few things off at a small Mennonite camp high in the hills.

Also living on the airfield is the crusty Bangley (Josh Brolin), a hyper-cynical former Marine and expert marksman who has taught Hig how to survive in their harsh new world. But while Bangley is content to live out his life isolated and defending all they have built, Hig longs for more. He once heard rumblings of a flourishing community in Grand Junction some 250 miles away. And after a run-in with a dangerous feral “tribe” called the Reapers, Hig makes the decision to leave Bangley and the airport and head for the potential better life in Grand Junction.

But as Hig is flying high above the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains, a sudden engine failure forces him to crash-land in a stony meadow. Not far away, he meets a young woman named Cima (Margaret Qualley) who lives in a remote cabin with her understandingly suspicious father, Pops (Guy Pearce). Hig quickly learns that their struggles aren’t all that different than his own. Nor are the threats they face, which he violently experiences firsthand.

Again, it’s hard not to be in awe of the dystopian canvas Scott creates. It’s a vividly realized, strikingly authentic, and grimly immersive world that’s brought to life with rich detail. Yet it’s also a stunningly beautiful world, as cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt treats us to one magnificent panoramic vista after another. It’s especially effective on the big screen which greatly enhances our sense of presence. I felt a part of this world from the earliest frames.

But it’s the film’s thematic core that makes “The Dog Stars” more than just another post-apocalyptic thriller. It doesn’t take long to recognize it as more character-oriented than action-driven. And it’s through those characters that we witness the clash between the two sides of humanity. One sees value in helping others while longing for human connection. The other is like a feral beast driven by self-preservation. Meanwhile some people live in the cracks in between, isolated and paranoid. Ultimately, the movie asks how do you rebuild a society when we are constantly undermining our own efforts? At the same time, it encourages us to appreciate what we have while we still have it.

To be clear, “The Dog Stars” does have several thrilling action scenes that are both visceral and intense. It also sports a stellar cast who all feel right at home in the harsh world they live in. But don’t go into Ridley Scott’s latest expecting some thrill-a-minute post-apocalyptic actioner. Instead, it’s a movie with a lot more on its mind, and Scott has no problem bucking expectations for something that refreshingly goes against the grain. Again, “The Dog Stars” may not be heralded among the filmmaker’s best works. But it shows the celebrated director still has a lot in the tank.

VERDICT – 4.5 STARS