The Power of the Dog Movie Review

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Watch The Power of the Dog on Netflix / Buy the book (paid link)
Written by: Jane Campion (written by), Thomas Savage (based on the novel by)
Directed by: Jane Campion
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Thomasin McKenzie, Frances Conroy, Keith Carradine
Rated: R
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Plot
Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother brings home a new wife and her son, Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love.

Verdict
It's definitely a slow burn movie that keeps getting better. It's a character study, slowly revealing more about these characters, with Phil being at the center. From the start he's a jerk, but the more we learn about him the more we wonder and then begin to guess why. It's a strong ending that brings everything together. All the pieces were there, but I didn't realize what the movie was doing.
Watch It.

Review
We start with rancher Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) who is needlessly cruel. At the start I wondered if this was Cumberbatch wanting to play against type, but as we learn more about this character Cumberbatch is a great fit for the role.

Jesse Plemons and Benedict Cumberbatch play George and Peter

Phil doesn't seem to like his brother George (Jesse Plemons), always putting him down. Phil is the roughneck rancher, George is the suit wearing businessman, but this isn't about brothers. Phil seems to treat everyone that isn't a rancher poorly. You have to wonder about Phil. Bullies often treat others poorly to feel powerful or because they were bullied. It certainly seems that Phil could be jealous of his brother and cruel to feel powerful. Why is Phil full of rage and scorn? You'd think with ranching he wouldn't have so much time to torment people.

While at first I thought Phil was charismatic, he only hangs out with his ranch hands. They're his employees. The only friend he seems to have died twenty years ago, Bronco Henry.

Kodi Smit-McPhee and Benedict Cumberbatch play Peter and Phil

George marries Rose (Kirsten Dunst) who becomes the new object of Phil's unfortunate interest. They all live in the same house, so she can't physically escape. Rose doesn't know why Phil is cruel, but she struggles under the constant disparagement. We slowly see that Phil makes fun of people for being gentle or tender because he's hiding those emotions. Phil never misses an opportunity to belittle Rose's son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee). Peter seems a bit odd, dissecting animals, but he claims he's practicing to be a surgeon.

When Peter discovers Phil in a compromising situation, the taunting stops. Peter also discovers Bronco Henry's books, though I'm not sure why they have Bronco's name on it unless it's for the viewer's benefit.
Phil has an interest in Peter, but it seems like it's a situation where he's keeping an enemy close or keeping Peter close to ensure the secret isn't released. We now know why Phil is preoccupied with being sissy. Peter takes this new friendship quite well despite everything we've seen. That's when this movie really kicks into gear.

A lingering question is Bronco Henry. Phil talks about him as one of the greatest cowboys, but I was wondering their age difference and when they met. Bronco Henry had a big influence on Phil.

Phil and Peter are both playing each other. This has a strong ending that creeps up on you. The title isn't explained until the very end.

SPOILERS

Bronco Henry is a lingering question. I wondered if Bronco had groomed Phil. The movie lets us know there was something between them even if we don't know particulars. They met when Phil was about eighteen, Peter's age. That makes me question the dynamic. Because Peter caught him, does Phil see he and Peter as a new Bronco and Phil?

We get a bible verse at the end about "the power of the dog." What does it mean? I'd guess "deliver my soul from the sword" means save me from the sword, the violence, the torment. That's Phil. "My darling from the power of the dog." Peter or likely his mom was saved by the unexpected. You wouldn't expect a dog to be able to defend against a sword, but sometimes it happens. Dogs get kicked around, as did Peter. Peter is the one that exerts power in response to Phil. Phil tormented Peter and his mom, never expecting Peter would bite back.