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    Movie Review

    Jacob Elordi shines in post-apocalyptic thriller The Dog Stars

    Alex Bentley
    Aug 27, 2026 | 1:05 pm
    Jacob Elordi in The Dog Stars

    Jacob Elordi in The Dog Stars.

    Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios

    There has never been a shortage of post-apocalyptic films in movie history, with the genre proving popular since it allows viewers to confront fears about the real world without actually having to experience the extreme conditions depicted on screen. The Dog Stars deals with its version of the end of the world in ways that are alternately genteel, brutal, and downright wacky.

    Hig (Jacob Elordi), a mechanic and pilot, lives on a rural airfield in Colorado alongside his prepper friend Bangley (Josh Brolin). An unspecified virus has wiped out most of humanity and the two of them have banded together to survive. As the film begins, Hig is making one of his occasional plane trips to Denver, gathering medical supplies, gas, and treats for both the two of them and a group of Mennonites who live close by.

    While Bangley is happy being a loner and taking out anyone who dares step foot on their property, Hig wants to try to find other survivors, especially when he picks up a scratchy radio signal from Grand Junction. A perhaps ill-advised solo journey puts him in contact with Pops (Guy Pearce) and Cima (Margaret Qualley), a father-and-daughter living on their own, along with other groups who are much less welcoming.

    Directed by Ridley Scott and written by Mark L. Smith, the film is a relatively slow-paced affair that is occasionally punctuated by moments of violence. On the plus side, that allows for plenty of character development for Hig — who’s still mourning the wife he lost and has a deep bond with his dog, Jasper — and Bangley, whose go-it-alone mentality makes it a little difficult to fathom how he ever came to trust Hig in the first place.

    This is no zombie movie, and so while characters still fear exposure to the mysterious virus, it’s more about the finality of death than hordes of undead coming after them. There are however, desperate individuals and marauding groups that become occasional threats, and the manner in which they are dealt with in the film can be shocking. It’s easy to feel the menace from the more organized groups, but when small duos or trios are dispatched without even a word, it tests the audience’s moral compass.

    The film has a mostly meandering quality instead of a specific plot as Hig explores the area in his plane. This works for the majority of the film, but a few sequences in the final 45 minutes of the film give the story an abruptly bizarre turn, making them feel like they belong in a totally different movie. Scott and Smith manage to right the ship before the film ends, but to say those elements come out of nowhere is an understatement.

    Elordi, whose recent roles (Wuthering Heights, Frankenstein) have been showier, has a solid presence here, becoming someone whose expertise and continuing grief are completely believable. Brolin makes for a nice foil as a man who gets by on machismo. Qualley, who tends to be over-the-top in her parts, keeps things low-key, which makes Cima interesting and sympathetic. Pearce goes a bit manic as the over-protective father, but it works in the context of the film.

    Like a lot of post-apocalyptic films, The Dog Stars leaves you with more questions than answers, but the time spent with the characters makes up for any nagging plot discrepancies. Save for a couple of weird sections, the film stays grounded in reality, making it feel like an entertaining meditation on how life could be should disaster strike.

    ---

    The Dog Stars opens in theaters on August 28.

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    These are the top 15 things to do in Houston this weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Sep 9, 2026 | 6:30 pm
    Motley Crue
    Motley Crue Facebook
    Mötley Crüe returns to The Woodlands this weekend.

    As Houstonians commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11, many people across the city will get together to celebrate peace and remember those who lost their lives.

    Others will be spending their weekend participating in the H-Town Naked Bike Ride. Happening this Saturday at Super Happy Fun Land, attendees will be able to get their bodies painted with other cyclists, hop on their ten-speeds, and just ride the night away.

    Of course, this weekend offers plenty of other things to do, from attending an evening of art and food to celebrating National Video Games Day at a new playhub to having “no fun” with these guys.

    Thursday, September 10

    Space Center Houston presents An Evening with Leland Melvin
    Leland Melvin is a former NASA astronaut, engineer, and NFL wide receiver whose journey powers his speaking experience. After an injury ended his professional football career and a near-deafness diagnosis threatened his future at NASA, Melvin defied the odds to fly two Space Shuttle missions aboard Atlantis, helping build the International Space Station and logging more than 565 hours in space. Melvin delivers a message that challenges audiences to embrace setbacks, unlock potential, and pursue bold new frontiers. 5:30 pm.

    Barbacana presents A Taste of Art with Affordable Art Fair Houston
    Barbacana chef-owner Christian Hernandez is staging a one-night dinner where every course is a direct response to an original work of art. It’s built around work from Joan Steinman and Holly Wong (Ellio Fine Art) and Angel Oloshove (Hooks-Epstein Galleries), three local artists showing at the Affordable Art Fair Houston this October. Throughout the evening, both the artists and the chefs will share insights into their creative processes. 7 pm.

    The Hobby Center presents Live at the Founder's Club: Orfeh’s Off the Record with Steven Jamail
    Grammy/Tony nominee Orfeh brings powerhouse vocals, sharp storytelling, and unmistakable style to the Founders Club for a two-night show that blends music, personality, and a few surprises along the way. Joined by Houston native/Rice University alumnus Steven Jamail, Orfeh moves across genres with ease, pairing songs audiences love with stories from her life and career, including a few nods to Texas legends. 7:30 pm.

    Friday, September 11

    Inman Gallery presents Angela Fraleigh: "I have decided not to be hungry" opening reception
    Angela Fraleigh’s newest paintings enter the charged terrain of the feral feminine, unleashing a cast of unruly figures animated by desire, instinct, and an irrepressible appetite. Maenads, witches, and animals emerge and recede through lush layers of paint, carrying an energy that shifts between the ecstatic and the intimate, the violent and the tender. Guided by a logic closer to ritual than narrative, Fraleigh approaches painting as a form of alchemy, allowing images to collide, dissolve, and transmute. Through Saturday, October 31. 6 pm.

    Mötley Crüe in concert
    Mötley Crüe comes to The Woodlands as part of its The Return of the Carnival of Sins tour. The two milestones being remembered are the 20th anniversary of their 2005-06 Carnival of Sins tour, which marked the reunion of the band's original four members, and the 45th anniversary of the band itself. It's also the 12th anniversary of Mötley Crüe's "retirement" from touring, but that retirement was shelved in 2022 when the band started the first of two tours with Def Leppard. 6:30 pm.

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Take Care of My Cat
    A sleeper hit in 2001, Jeong Jae-eun’s debut chronicles the lives of five graduating friends whose bonds fracture as they contend with unrealized dreams and unequal opportunities. Set in the port city of Incheon, the film tackles notions of class, solidarity, and privilege – in what is now a timeless snapshot of a rapidly evolving society. Suffused with the joys of girlhood, yet clear-eyed about the uneasy transition into adulthood, Take Care of My Cat offers a tender portrait of young women at the turn of the new millennium. 7 pm.

    Cash Money & No Limit Tour
    New Orleans icons Cash Money and No Limit are teaming up for a concert that celebrates some of the most signature voices in Southern hip-hip. The lineup includes Birdman, Master P, Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, B.G., Silkk the Shocker, Mia X, Mac, Fiend, Mercedes, Choppa, and Mr. Serv-On with special guest Ying Yang Twinz. VIP packages are also available. 8 pm.

    Boondocks presents Let Me Rock! Houston featuring JonoJono
    Houston alternative rock artist JonoJono is celebrating the release of his sophomore album, We Asked For More, with a local release event as part of the Let Me Rock! Houston show at Boondocks. This is designed as both an arts showcase and a community resource hub. After navigating his own mental health battles, Jono created More as his personal therapeutic outlet, and he’ll be bringing that message home by merging live music, visual storytelling, and actionable mental health resources for local attendees. 9 pm.

    Saturday, September 12

    Blue Bird Circle presents Couture Boutique
    Luxury fashion meets philanthropy at The Blue Bird Circle’s Couture Boutique. The store will offer a selection of authentic designer apparel, handbags, shoes, jewelry, and accessories from coveted fashion houses, including Chanel, Dior, and Gucci. Every purchase supports The Blue Bird Circle Clinic for Pediatric Neurology at Texas Children’s Hospital and neurological research at Baylor College of Medicine. The annual event offers fashion lovers the opportunity to find designer treasures while supporting vital pediatric neurological care and research. 10 am.

    Tokyouth Playhub presents National Video Games Day
    Tokyouth Playhub is turning National Video Games Day into an all-day celebration, inviting gamers, families, and claw machine fans to play, compete, and win with prizes happening every hour. Throughout the day, one attendee every hour will be selected to win either a $100 Tokyouth playing card or a $50 gift card to EMA Japanese Cuisine. Tokyouth will also host an hourly claw competition, putting players' claw machine skills to the test. People can purchase 50 credits for $20 and compete to see who can grab the most prizes during their competition. 10 am.

    Vietnamese Culture & Science Association presents Viet Cultural Fest
    Founded in 2019, Viet Cultural Fest is a day filled with cultural entertainment, traditional games, competitions, and Vietnamese cuisine. The fest’s mission is to preserve and promote the rich beauty of Vietnamese culture while establishing an annual tradition that welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds throughout Houston and surrounding areas. This year’s theme, “Phù Đổng Thiên Vương – When Courage Calls, Giants Rise,” draws inspiration from the legendary Saint Gióng, one of Vietnam’s Four Immortals. 10 am.

    Cactus Music presents Kate Waters In-Store Performance
    Kate Waters is a neurologically-trained and board-certified music therapist, using music to bring healing and hope. And it’s hope — specifically the kind that’s hard fought-for — that is the undercurrent of Some Comfort, Waters’ sophomore album of soulful Americana and first studio release. Waters finds light in every hardship, and never spares us the dirty, difficult work of searching for it. This weekend, she will celebrate the release with a live performance at Cactus Music. 1 pm.

    Sunday, September 13

    Social Movement Contemporary Dance Theater presents DANCE | HUNGER | ACTION
    A multi-day celebration of dance, community, and action that's presented by Social Movement Contemporary Dance Theater, the fest brings together youth, pre-professional, collegiate, and professional dance artists from across Houston and beyond. The series includes three concerts: Youth Concert, Pre-Professional Concert, and Professional Concert. Activities continue throughout September with master classes and a community volunteer day benefiting the Houston Food Bank. Through Friday, September 18. 2:30 pm.

    River Oaks Theatre presents The Complete Metropolis Live Score with David DiDonato
    The restoration of Fritz Lang’s sci-fi 1927 masterpiece Metropolis will feature a live score by Austin composer/multi-instrumentalist David DiDonato. This new score includes elements of classical, electronic, metal, dance, vaporwave, industrial, and shoegaze. The restoration adds new integration of scenes and subplots long considered lost, as it dramatizes the conflict between wealthy über-capitalists and rebellious subterranean laborers — orchestrated by a diabolical scientist capable of destroying them both. 6 pm.

    Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter in concert
    The Sex Pistols — original members Steve Jones, Paul Cook, and Glen Matlock — and singer Frank Carter (replacing outspoken ex-lead singer John Lydon, who is currently on tour with his band, Public Image Ltd.) come to Houston as part of their Never Mind the Bollocks tour. They'll play the band’s landmark 1977 album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, in its entirety, along with additional material spanning the group’s catalog. 7:30 pm.

    Motley Crue
    Motley Crue Facebook

    Mötley Crüe returns to The Woodlands this weekend.

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