REVIEW: 'The Power of the Dog' (2021, Jane Campion)

Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank in Jane Campion's acclaimed Western drama, The Power of the Dog.

By Stephanie Mayo

This is no Western, but a tale of pent-up rage and self-hate. The central figure is Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch), a 1920s toxic bully that ranches in the stunning hills of Montana.

Rich, dirty, and flanked by his minion cowhands, he mocks his own brother, George (Jesse Plemons), shockingly slaps a horse's face repeatedly, and makes fun of an effeminate teenager, Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee), and the boy's widowed mom, Rose (Kirsten Dunst).

While Cumberbatch is effectively menacing as Phil, you cannot truly despise him. His beady eyes show a deep well of pain. This immediately makes you sympathetic toward this troubled man. 

Strange, though, that Rose instantly marries George and comes to live with him in the family mansion, even if Phil also lives there. If you are too onion-skinned for the likes of hateful Phil, why commit yourself to a lifetime of misery?

Kirsten Dunst as the onion-skinned Rose.

Based on a 1967 novel by Thomas Savage, the story mainly revolves around Phil, Rose, and Peter. George comes and goes, busy with stuff. Rose, too weak to simply roll her eyes at her insufferable brother-in-law, succumbs to self-destruction. You wish her actions are justified, because, frankly, Phil is not a dangerous man. He's just unpleasant and stinky.

Rose is sadly one-dimensional, but she is a necessity to propel the plot into its unexpected conclusion. Also, her thinly developed character is forgivable, as The Power of the Dog is overall compelling.

With its sparse dialogue, little action, and glowing performance by Cumberbatch, this period drama is gripping for its complex psychological undertones. As the tale unfolds, I was thinking if this could be another Call Me By Your Name (a movie that I loathe for its comical storytelling). Turns out, it's not.

Kodi Smit-McPhee as the sensitive teenage boy, Peter.

From Jane Campion, the acclaimed director of The Piano (1993), The Power of the Dog is one of the year's best. You understand why she won the Best Director prize in this year's Venice Film Festival. Her austere, seamless direction is hypnotic, pulling you into the fractured soul of a sad, complicated rancher and his object of interest, Peter, whose character arc is terrific.

Campion's genius is evident in the movie's blistering subtexts. Sure, the visuals are striking—punctuated with a subtly dark film score. But the real triumph of the film is how Campion plants quietly explosive metaphors.

The Power of the Dog boasts a masterful direction and another winning performance from Cumberbatch. It's a meticulously crafted film that understands the power of implicit storytelling.

4/5 stars

Published in the Daily Tribune