Power of the Dog (2021)

After enjoying Jane Campion’s Top Of The Lake TV series (2013-2017) as she offered her ample bow to television, I awaited her return to film with bated breath. It’s delightful to announce then, that The Power Of The Dog is an astonishing piece of filmmaking. It’s a real shame that it had such a short cinematic release before it opened on Netflix, but by the same token, if it wasn’t for Netflix it may not have been made in the first place. Based on Thomas Savage’s 1967 novel of the same name, The Power Of The Dog takes place in Montana in 1925 (actually filmed entirely in New Zealand) as wealthy cattle rancher brothers Phil and George Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch and Jesse Plemons respectively) meet widow Rose (Kirsten Dunst) as she puts them up for the night during a cattle drive. After taking a liking to Rose, George soon marries her, bringing her and her son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) to live on the brothers’ ranch. Phil takes a hateful dislike to Rose, and subsequently her son after he arrives on holiday from college. The film is teeming with simmering tension; we’re unsure as to why exactly Phil’s contempt is so rife, at times you’re almost holding your breath at the uncomfortable nature of some of the scenes. Magnificently shot by Ari Wegner, with sweeping strokes of the plains wonderfully fused with some truly excellent close up shots to somehow create a feeling of claustrophobia amongst a wide-open setting. What also adds to this is the performance of the main quartet of actors; in my opinion this is the best thing I’ve seen Cumberbatch do, and he’s usually no slouch. His outright disdain is matched by the creepiness of Kodi Smit-McPhee, and as the two share more exclusive screen time as the film progresses, it’s impossible to read entirely what’s going on behind the eyes of either, leading to a terrific edginess to the second half of the film. Campion has produced something utterly engrossing, truly beautiful and genuinely gripping, also aided by a wonderful score by Johnny Greenwood (yes, him again). If you can see it on the big screen, I urge you to seek it out. 8.6/10