‘A Story of Spiritual Endurance’: Director David Ayer on the Themes of Faith and Hope in ‘Heart of the Beast’
Director David Ayer has carved out a unique career in Hollywood. Starting out as a writer for hit films like The Fast and the Furious (2001) and Training Day (2001), he went on to direct films like End of Watch (2012), Suicide Squad (2016), and The Beekeeper (2024). He experienced breakthrough success with his 2014 war film Fury, starring Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf.
Fury explored themes of faith and perseverance in a broken, violent world. During the press tour for the film, Ayer spoke about his belief in God and his desire to present that faith in an authentic and meaningful way. In his upcoming survival thriller/drama Heart of the Beast (again starring Brad Pitt), Ayer is revisiting many of those spiritual themes and questions.
Speaking with The Collision, Ayer notes that the film’s script (written by Cameron Alexander) deeply moved him: “I was struck by the simplicity of it. And within that simplicity, there’s a lot of complexity and a lot of messaging and a lot of things that really resonated with me. Part of it felt like processing grief. I lost my father when I was very young, and I started seeing echoes in this script.”
The film, which focuses almost exclusively on a man and his dog, offers a change of pace from the action-heavy ensemble casts of Ayer’s previous films and allows him to explore different aspects of storytelling.
“There’s a quietness to it. And within that quiet space is a way to hear other things that could be drowned out in a more action-based, intense film. There’s a bit of truth in it. There’s a character study, a study in hope, a study in heart, a study in relationship, a study in faith, a study in never giving up and how our actions have meaning. So, it really became the perfect canvas to explore some of those themes.”
Heart of the Beast, primarily shot on location in New Zealand, is a visually beautiful film. According to Ayer, one of the most meaningful aspects of creating it was “. . . being out there in the . . . mountains and the glaciers and the forests, watching the beauty of that natural creation and then finding a way to fold it into the story and make it a character in the story.”
Although the film is not overtly religious, there is a redemptive dimension to it: “It’s a story of spiritual endurance. It’s a story of loss, grief, and a bit of atonement. As [James] goes into these dark places, he never loses hope. He never gives up.”
Throughout the perilous journey, the film balances the dangers of the wilderness with moments of simple joy and beauty. Ayer shared, “It’s a tough world, and it’s not getting any easier. . . If you have faith that your own personal journey is going to resolve in a way that is beautiful and purposeful and will give meaning to everything that came before, it’s much easier to move through the world.”
When asked what he hopes audiences take away from the film, Ayer responded, “I think it’s a story of love and that love really is the most powerful force. When you have it, you can make it through anything. It’s a story of spiritual endurance—never losing hope, never quitting, never giving up . . . and that’s really a metaphor for how we have to live our own lives … when you stumble and get up and keep moving toward the light, you will find it.”
Heart of the Beast will debut in theaters on September 25.
