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
  • olisilumea - 14 April 2024
    A little boring
    "The Power of the Dog" is a haunting and beautifully crafted film that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll. Director Jane Campion masterfully explores themes of masculinity, power dynamics, and repressed desire in this gripping Western drama.

    Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a mesmerizing performance as the brooding rancher Phil Burbank, while Kirsten Dunst shines as the vulnerable Rose. Their complex characters are brought to life against the stunning backdrop of the Montana wilderness.

    Campion's direction is impeccable, creating an atmosphere of tension and unease that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The cinematography is breathtaking, capturing the rugged beauty of the landscape and enhancing the film's sense of isolation and melancholy.

    While the pacing may feel slow for some, it allows for a deeper exploration of the characters and their relationships. The film's ambiguous ending may leave some questions unanswered, but it adds to the overall sense of intrigue and mystery.

    In conclusion, "The Power of the Dog" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant film that showcases the talents of its cast and crew. It's a must-see for fans of slow-burn dramas and nuanced storytelling.
  • elicem-cohen - 6 January 2024
    Great example of failed attempt for an art movie
    They gave it a shot. They truly did. They attempted to tell a story but failed to do so. They began out fantastic, but suddenly nothing stayed together as a story. Mweh in terms of acting. You wonder yourself halfway through the film, which had so many nominations and big stars, if something is going to happen. Waiting and waiting yields nothing. A complete waste of time, definitely money, and a PR machine attempting to make sense of this film by classifying it as an art film fails there too. If you want to see how art, gay or bisexual themes, music, acting, and proper filmmaking can be done on 1/100th of that budget, go watch something by Ferzan Ozpetek. It's a mystery to me why Hollywood never learns. A film with no personality.
  • clp-27058 - 22 August 2023
    Beautiful Scenery
    Stunning locations and a lot of thought went into the style and props. There were plenty of amazing big country type scenes with cattle, horses men and women trotting along behind. Pianos featured a lot in this film - player models in the bar and a baby grand brought to the ranch for Kirsten Dunst to play. Phil is tiresome and mean-minded and looks so unlike his alleged brother I though this might be a film about secret infidelity in the parents' marriage. No such luck - however we do get to see Benedict Cumberbatch naked and covering himself in mud. Otherwise, nothing of any interest happens at all.
  • masonsaul - 18 December 2022
    Incredibly satisfying slow burn
    The Power of the Dog is an incredible drama that explores masculinity at its most repressed and explosive with a gorgeously baron backdrop (the New Zealand landscapes work so well) and unexpected moments of warmth in satisfyingly slow fashion.

    Benedict Cumberbatch gives a career high performance, with an immediately commanding presence that slowly reveals a pain and warmth beneath the tough surface. Kirsten Dunst is terrific, carrying her own pain and really selling the intense presence of Cumberbatch.

    Jane Campion's direction is amazing, heavily utilizing metaphor to show rather than tell and there's more than enough gorgeous frames within frames. The music by Jonny Greenwood is excellent, just as baron yet beautiful as the landscapes themselves.
  • denigmatic - 2 October 2022
    Award winning quality film but not my favourite
    There is a film that once you saw it you know this film is an award winning quality, The Power of The Dog is that kind of film, a beautiful cinematography, a great production quality, strong script material, and of course a great acting. Me personally feel this movie have the same vibes like There Will Be Blood another award winning movie quality, you cannot complain for watching this film except this kind of movie is not what your type, like me. I can't complain about this film but this is not my favourite type of film. I prefer an experimental film like wes anderson or quentin, and second these type of story is not what i like.
  • nahidmstta - 21 August 2022
    The production was underwhelming, and I felt duped by the publicity surrounding it.
    Underwhelming, and I feel duped by the publicity surrounding this production. Because they deviate from the norm, unique films can garner rave reviews from seasoned critics. In this case, it was a western, but there were no shootouts or "high noon" moments.

    Something about a Western shot in a vast expanse of endless prairie and mountains appeals to me. Consider the films Unforgiven, Dances with Wolves, and Brokeback Mountain. They all had amazing scenery, so the success was dependent on the actors and the storyline. While Benedict Cumberbatch delivered an outstanding performance, the story fell short for me. Benedict is never typecast and is always brilliant in whatever he does, which added to the intrigue. He is a fantastically versatile actor in the mould of Tom Hanks.

    The film focuses on masculinity, but it also includes parental roles, a love story, class, and a liberal sprinkling of homoeroticism. The story had no obvious pattern, but as I previously stated, it was underwhelming. Tension was brilliantly built up between some of the characters, particularly Phil, but it ultimately went nowhere.