The Power of the Dog

The Power of the Dog

A domineering but charismatic rancher wages a war of intimidation on his brother's new wife and her teen son, until long-hidden secrets come to light.

  • Released: 2021-11-17
  • Runtime: 127 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, Romance, Western
  • Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Keith Carradine, Thomasin McKenzie, Geneviève Lemon, Adam Beach, Peter Carroll, Frances Conroy, Sean Keenan, Ken Radley, George Mason, Ramontay McConnell, David Denis, Cohen Holloway, Max Mata, Josh Owen, Alistair Sewell, Eddie Campbell, Alice Englert, Jacque Drew, Yvette Parsons, Bryony Skillington, Aislinn Furlong, Daniel Cleary, Richard Falkner, Tatum Warren-Ngata, Yvette Reid, Alice May Connolly, Stephen Lovatt, Stephen Bain, Ella Hope-Higginson, Piimio Mei, Edith Poor, Vadim Ledogorov, Julie Forsyth, Alison Bruce, Karl Willetts, David T. Lim, Maeson Stone Skuggedal, Ian Harcourt, Kenneth Radley, Sean Keenan, George Mason, Ramontay McConnell, David Denis, Cohen Holloway, Max Mata, Josh Owen, Alistair Sewell, Eddie Campbell, Alice Englert, Bryony Skillington, Jacque Drew, Yvette Parsons, Aislinn Furlong, Daniel Cleary, Richard Falkner, Tatum Warren-Ngata, Yvette Reid, Alice May Connolly, Stephen Lovatt, Stephen Bain, Ella Hope-Higginson, Piimio Mei, Edith Poor, Vadim Ledogorov, Julie Forsyth, Peter Carroll, Alison Bruce, Karl Willetts, David T. Lim, Adam Beach, Maeson Stone Skuggedal, Ian Harcourt
  • Director: Jane Campion
 Comments
  • bladefd - 13 June 2024
    Great technicals but weak story/pacing/plot
    'The Power of the Dog' is a modern-day Western drama. Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a cold, intimidating, rude, heartless rancher in 1925, Montana. His brother, George (Jesse Plemons), marries a widow, Rose (Kirsten Dunst), whom he met during their travel. They move together on a large family-owned ranch. Phil, being the toxic alpha, instills fear in Rose. Rose also has a son from her previous marriage, who fears Phil but slowly takes a liking to him. The ending allows earlier foreshadowing moments to click into place. I don't know if Phil was a sociopath, but he seemed like one. The style of this film is interesting with chapters splitting different acts.

    This movie is hard to recommend. It's a very subtle and slow-paced story. A lot is happening between the lines of minimal dialogue and narration. I thought hard about turning it off multiple times, but I slugged through on enchanting technicals. The technicals are amazing, so that's the only reason I gave this film a 7.5. If we are judging just the story, it's a 6. If the technicals were not so great, I would have turned this film off in 15 minutes, and there would be no review. I try to be patient, but I have a rule that if I don't like a movie, it's off. This film tested the upper limits of my patience. So, the technicals. The acting, cinematography, directing, music, visuals, costuming, and atmosphere are very well done to place you into 1925. Cumberbatch is a great actor. He seems to always be at the top of his game even since his Sherlock days. The story, pacing, and plot were disappointing. Short, scathing review. I have little to say.

    Would I recommend this? No. I cannot. Unless you are a filmmaker, a student of film, or a huge fan of one of the actors.
  • xygctcyj - 20 February 2024
    Terrible
    My first review was removed because it dared to challenge the mantra of today's society about sexuality. I'll leave it at that.

    This was one of the worst movies I've seen in years. There was an obvious agenda the writers were pushing on an unsuspecting audience. If I had known what it was about I would have never clicked play.

    For example, I wouldn't even be mildly curious about Brokeback Mountain and therefore would never watch it. I don't want to watch any kind of sexual content, no matter what kind of content it is.

    This film had no indication that I would be exposed to sexual perversion. I thought it was a typical Western. Boy was I wrong.

    The film drug along forever and then it just gets worse as it develops. I couldn't even finish it. If you're a normal person, stay away from this film. It's 2 hours of your life that you'll never get back.