Double Feature: The End of Oak Street & The Dog Stars

Two very different films in one day, and two very different moods: one nostalgic and eerie, one quiet and aching.

The End of Oak Street · 6.5/10

The closest comparison I can offer is Super 8: the same '80s-tinged nostalgia and sense of sci-fi adventure, turned a bit heavier toward the eerie and the unsettling, with a touch of whimsy running through it. The production design is the standout. The world it builds feels specific, lived-in, and just slightly off, in the best way. Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway are both excellent. There were stretches where I wondered whether it would hold together all the way to the finish line, but it did, and I left satisfied.

The Dog Stars · 6/10

Walking out, I turned to my wife and said, "That was an aviation western." We both just nodded. As someone who loves aviation, post-apocalyptic stories, and a good western, it felt like a beautiful blend of all three. I haven't read Peter Heller's novel, so I came in fresh. The acting, the music, and Ridley Scott's visuals are all excellent. It's moving but deliberately slow, and the ending arrived sooner than I expected. I found myself wanting a little more story before the credits, though I don't entirely mind being left wanting.

The verdict: Pick The End of Oak Street if you want something stimulating and strange, and The Dog Stars if you want something slower and more emotionally gripping. Both are worth a ticket.