Hideo Kojima Shares Thoughts After Watching Ridley Scott’s ‘The Dog Stars’ in Japan

Ridley Scott has always embraced ambitious world-building in his films, and his latest post-apocalyptic drama, ‘The Dog Stars,’ is no exception. The movie has sparked a range of reactions, both positive and negative, from critics and fans alike, eager to discuss its themes and execution.

Among those weighing in is the legendary video game creator Hideo Kojima, renowned for his atmospheric storytelling in titles like ‘Death Stranding.’ Kojima took to social media to share his thoughts after viewing the film in a Japanese theater, providing a thoughtful analysis that covered everything from the film’s literary origins to its musical score.

Directed by Scott and featuring a cast that includes Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, Allison Janney, and Benedict Wong, ‘The Dog Stars’ tells the story of Hig, a pilot who survives in an abandoned Colorado airplane hangar with his dog and a paranoid ex-Marine after a pandemic wipes out most of humanity. The film is based on Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, which is known in Japan as “Itsuka Boku ga Kaeru Basho,” or “The Place I’ll Return to Someday.”

In his post, Kojima admitted that he had the novel sitting unread on his shelf for years before the film’s release motivated him to engage with it conceptually, as he entered the theater without prior knowledge of the book. He noted, “Peter Heller’s original novel, ‘The Dog Stars’… has been sitting on my bookshelf for years, unread. Since it’s literary fiction rather than science fiction, I went to see the movie picturing it might be something along the lines of Cormac McCarthy’s ‘The Road.’”

This comparison to McCarthy’s acclaimed post-apocalyptic work is not without merit. Critics have often highlighted the similarities between Heller’s novel and McCarthy’s, particularly in their shared sparse, survivalist tone, while debating how closely the two narratives align in substance.

Beyond the literary parallels, Kojima praised the film’s score, composed by Harry Gregson-Williams, and pointed out that Japanese theaters did not offer a program pamphlet for the release—a small but significant detail for a director who pays close attention to the physical aspects of moviegoing. Accompanying his post were images of Kojima at a 4DX screening, showcasing the film’s Japanese poster art.

Kojima’s insights come at a time when ‘The Dog Stars’ has received a mixed critical reception since its theatrical release on August 28. While some reviews commend it as one of Scott’s more emotionally resonant works in recent years, others criticize it for being surprisingly stagnant for a director of his caliber. Nevertheless, many agree that Gregson-Williams’ score stands out as a consistent highlight.

The film also experienced a significant casting change during production, with Elordi taking over the lead role after Paul Mescal had to exit due to scheduling conflicts. Regardless of the film’s critical reception, Kojima’s detailed public reaction adds another layer to the ongoing conversation surrounding a film that has already ignited considerable discussion in both the film and gaming communities.

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