Hello and welcome to Movie Reviews 2026 – your indispensable guide to film.
In this week’s edition, it’s time to activate ‘Cruise’ control with the release of Tom Cruise’s latest picture, the satirical black comedy, Digger. The highly anticipated project has been making headlines these past few weeks, and is set to be a big movie.
But is Digger all it’s cracked up to be? You can find out below.
Plus, this week you’ll find reviews for the Brad Pitt survival thriller, Heart of the Beast, as well as the daft comedy, Spa Weekend.
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In cinemas…
Heart of the Beast (2026)
First up this week is the survival thriller, Heart of the Beast. Directed by David Ayer and starring Brad Pitt, the movie follows the story of a retired Special Forces operative and his loyal combat dog, who become stranded in the Alaskan wilderness.
In the movie, James Belmont and his pooch Odin are taking a trip in James’ plane to a remote Alaskan lake. But when the weather begins to take a turn for worst they set off back to civilisation.
Unfortunately, shortly into their return flight James suffers a heart attack, which results in him crashing the plane. After salvaging what he can from the wreckage, James begins a 50 mile hike with Odin in tow.
However, the wilderness proves treacherous for the pair, with danger around every corner. Despite all the brutality and hardship they have both seen in war, this could be their toughest journey yet.
For anyone interested in watching Heart of the Beast, which should be plenty of you, I feel it is only fair to issue a warning: You will require a couple of tissues. This is an emotive, heartfelt picture, which revolves around the unbreakable bond between man and mutt.
I’m not saying any more than that, but if you’re a dog owner yourself you’ll know how attached you are to your furry friend and vice versa, and any story with a lovable doggy is sure to tug on the heart strings. Heart of the Beast explores the connection between human and canine and is sure to move even the most stoic individual, and bring a tear to a glass eye.
Which is pretty much what happens here. James and Odin have been through so much war and conflict, leaving them both with PTSD, and the film looks at their relationship and the experiences they share.
This is then set to the backdrop of a survival story in which the duo must contend with rough terrain, ferocious wolves, and one very tense plane crash. The crash takes place around 25 minutes into the film, and contains a significant moment which is sure to have jaws dropping.
Of course all of this drama should keep your eyes firmly on the screen and engaged with the material – especially every time Odin appears. Move over Lassie, and make way The Littlest Hobo, because Odin is the most captivating canine.
Real-life dog actors Uber, Seeka, Ryker, and Hondo play the role of Odin, and the chemistry with Brad Pitt’s James is undeniably strong. From start to finish there is a superb dynamic here which is mesmerising to watch.
Not everything works in the film, and you might roll your eyes a couple of times as James gets into scrape after scrape, after scrape, but for the most part this is an impactful adventure tale and a solid picture from director David Ayer. It’s also a perfect fit for Pitt, and demonstrates there are still interesting stories to tell which don’t need to revolve around super heroes or existing IPs.
If you wish to take a look at the movie, Heart of the Beast is now playing in cinemas.
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Now streaming…
Spa Weekend (2026)
Next up, in comedy Spa Weekend, three best friends Jane, Sophie, and Coco, set off on a relaxing weekend away to celebrate Jane’s birthday. After checking in to the resort, the trio are joined by old school friend (and general disaster waiting to happen), Mel.
Mel’s arrival brings chaos to the group, the spa, and the weekend of relaxation. Everything she does becomes a constant source of frustration, with Jane, Sophie, and Coco forced to grin and bear it.
But with tensions mounting, and Mel causing problems in everyone’s personal life, how much longer can things go on before someone is forced to speak up? And can the friendship group survive long enough to make it through the weekend?
Released in cinemas at the tail-end of the summer blockbuster season, but now available to watch from the comfort of your own home, it’s fair to say Spa Weekend did not make a big impact on the big screen. The film slipped out during the dumping ground portion of the summer (i.e. late August) and it bombed at the box office.
And it’s not difficult to see why. Bridesmaids this ain’t, and instead it’s a fairly by-the-numbers comedy from directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore.
Spa Weekend does exactly what you expect it to do, exactly when you expect it to happen, and offers no originality. The film also isn’t as funny as it needs to be, with the best jokes showing up in the form of a gag reel at the end of the movie, rather than in the actual bulk of the story.
So, yeah, not the best comedy of the year. There are some titters to be had here and there, but sadly no belly laughs.
However, all that said, Spa Weekend is still a fairly enjoyable watch. The cast – Leslie Mann, Anna Faris, Michelle Buteau, and Isla Fisher – are all great value, and there’s some fun to be had watching friendships fall apart and madcap scenarios taking place.
There’s also a touch of romance thrown into the mix, if that’s your kind of thing. It’s all a bit wishy-washy, but it’s an easy watch, and far more suited to the small screen than the cinema, so you may find it perfectly fine if you’re not having to make the effort to leave the house to watch it.
Spa Weekend is very much a ‘wine and Chinese’ kind of night in front of the TV. It’s not appointment viewing, nor will you be wetting yourself laughing at what’s on offer, but if you adjust your expectations and get in a few snacks, it’s not a bad night in front of the box.
Should you wish to take a look, Spa Weekend is now available to rent or buy on video-on-demand platforms.
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In cinemas…
Digger (2026)
And finally, it’s back to the cinema for the release of the much talked about, yet highly secretive satirical black comedy, Digger. Directed and co-written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and starring Tom Cruise, Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jesse Plemons, the movie follows the story of a powerful oil baron and his connection to the possible destruction of the world.
And that’s pretty much all I can say about the plot of Digger, because to say too much will give away some key spoilerific details about the movie. Suffice to say, Digger is not quite what it seems to be, and those hoping for a straightforward picture will need to adjust their expectations.
It should also be said that Digger is not going to be for everyone. Some will come out of this film thinking it is a marvellous drama which really strikes a chord with the state of the world right now, while others may find it too artsy-fartsy for their tastes.
For those wondering, this Tom Cruise movie doesn’t fall into the same, mainstream category as the Mission: Impossible series or Top Gun. Digger has more in common with something like Magnolia or Vanilla Sky, so do take this on board.
So, what do you get with Digger and what can be said? Well, to begin, Digger is filled to the brim with excellent performances.
Cruise is top notch, as is Ahmed, and Goodman. These are the sorts of performances which generally grab the attention of Academy members, so it’s highly possible these guys will be in line for an acting nomination at next year’s Oscars.
Outside of the acting talent, Digger boasts some terrific staging and set design. The art department has pulled out all the stops to make this movie look the business and from a visual standpoint it can’t be faulted.
And then, there’s the satirical content which really shoots its shot in the direction of a number of political figures right now, and certainly hits the target full on. It doesn’t take a genius to spot who is a big focus here, or how their actions are being played out on screen.
So, that’s where things work rather well. Where things stumble a little (or a lot depending on your viewpoint) is when there is a gear shift following the first act.
Something significant happens, which doesn’t become entirely clear until much later on in the story, and this is where the film may lose some audiences. It didn’t lose me, but even while I remained on board, it’s fair to say the momentum does drop somewhat.
Also, by the nature of the story – which still isn’t getting spoiled here – the pacing is impacted, and that’s when things begin to slow down. The first act of the movie is very effective, as is the finale, but there are sections in the middle that don’t work as well.
It’s possible that Digger is a little too ambitious at times, and this causes one or two bumps along the way. It’s also possible Digger is exactly what it needs to be, in order to promote discussion, good or bad, to get us all seeing and talking about this film.
If you go into Digger hoping for a huge Cruise blockbuster then you are likely to be disappointed. But if you approach this as something quirky, a little high brow, and a movie with something important to say, you’ll find it far more appealing.
Reactions to Digger are likely to vary wildly. All reactions are valid.
For me, the amount of things that work simply can’t be ignored. And the central message, which sits at the heart of this picture, should only be ignored at our peril.
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Recent Releases
Not quite done yet? Want more movies? The above suggestions aren’t enough?! Well, here’s what’s also doing the rounds:
In the Grey (2026)
“Things pick up during the back-half of the movie, but by then it’s too late to elevate the material. That said, the copious amounts of guns, explosions, and car chases certainly improve things, as does some zip line action, as well a sequence involving a bazooka.”
Best of the Best (2026)
“Best of the Best is a frustrating experience. There are so many elements of the film which work, and the dance routines are fun, but because the story is so dull, it becomes an absolute slog to watch.”
Resident Evil (2026)
“(Zach) Cregger and co-writer Shay Hatten take the general premise of the games, attach it to a story about a lone man attempting to traverse countless obstacles, and add in a decent amount of blood and gore, alongside some well placed humour. It’s fun, it’s easy to get involved in, and it’s incredibly atmospheric.”
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Movie of the Week
Onto Movie of the Week which this week is going to Heart of the Beast. Brad Pitt gives a solid performance, but the dog is the star of the film!
And if you’re looking for more movies with charismatic canines, you might also like:
- Dog (2022) – Channing Tatum teams up with a Belgian Malinois for this marvellous drama about a soldier and a dog who have both seen their share of combat.
- Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (1999) – Richard Gere stars in this drama inspired by a true-life story about a very loyal Akita.
- Beethoven (1992) – A St. Bernard takes centre stage in this delightful comedy about a family who adopt a puppy.
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Forthcoming attractions
That’s your lot for this week, but coming soon Wildwood, Animals, Matchbox: The Movie, Other Mommy, Street Fighter, and the DC Comics body horror, Clayface. Plus there’s danger in the deep courtesy of Whalefall.
Alex
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this edition of Movie Reviews 2026. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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