The Power of the Dog - A Netflix Movie Review
The message of 'The Power of the Dog' is hard to grasp.
Deliver my soul from the sword. My love from the power of the dog.
The Power of the Dog is a 2021 Netflix film based on the novel by Thomas Savage. Rancher, Phil Burbank is not excited about the woman whom his brother marries. At first, tormenting the woman, he is exposed to the idea of love.
I had the privilege to catch a screening of The Power of the Dog at the Cabot Theater. This is a slow-burn film. Though, it holds a lot of depth. Wonderfully shot, discovering gorgeous western locations, the message of The Power of the Dog is hard to grasp.
Before filming started, as a request by the director, the actors spent time on a ranch to find the mindset of their characters. Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, and Kodi Smit-McPhee were excellent.
This was a very different role for Cumberbatch. His connection to his character is well-rounded. Because they were so deeply connected with their characters, Cumberbatch and Dunst barely interacted off-camera.
The motivation of each character was confusing. The characters weren’t given enough depth for me to care about them. Undoubtedly, there is tension. Plemons’ character fell flat to me. He doesn’t have much of a purpose in the story. The sibling relationship between Phil and George is not given enough attention.
The one character who had an in-depth story was Rose. Unhappy with her placement, Dunst was great in the journey of her character. I felt bad for the way Rose is treated, particularly by Phil. Women had a hard time identifying themselves in the early 1920s. Wanting more and feeling misunderstood, Rose drowns herself in her sorrows with alcohol.
The film had three stories. Each expressed finding your placement. Smit-McPhee is another magnificent actor. Most of the character’s stories are subtle. Peter’s quiet composition makes his character all the more perplexing. Cumberbach and Smit-McPhee did a great job in their interactions.
The characters share one thing in common. Deep down, they’re sad. Because of the world, they live in, voicing concerns is tough for them. Gender is another theme. Masculinity and feminity have gone through several definitions over time.
The Power of the Dog is very slow-paced. Sometimes nothing happened in a scene. Often, the camera panned the landscape. Visually, this is a nice film to look at. Jane Campion found the best locations to film in.
Taking place in Montana, The Power of the Dog was filmed in New Zealand. Cinematography is astounding. Its portrayal of quiet beauty is an element that is not seen in enough films.
Campion institutes subtext very well. I got a sense of the emotions. As I have learned, audiences shouldn’t be fed details. Subtlety is stronger. Viewers need to concentrate on this film. There’s a lot you can miss. This is not just a western film. Even though I didn’t like it, the film has remained on my mind. The subtle moments pick at you to think more.
In my opinion, it should not have started slow because it was tough for me to get into the story. The Power of the Dog is tough to follow. The film takes its time to get into the story. There is more under the surface that we needed to see. Most of it is implied. Campion used a unique direction that dictated societal norms.
The film wasn’t my favorite, but it had a lot of meaning. So far, it has won Oscars in the categories of the best picture as well as best director. Find it on Netflix and watch it this Oscar season.
About the Creator
Marielle Sabbag
Writing has been my passion since I was 11 years old. I love creating stories from fiction, poetry, fanfiction. I enjoy writing movie reviews. I would love to become a creative writing teacher and leave the world inspiring minds.
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