Power of the Dog (2021) Review

Title: Power of the Dog
Year: 2021
Director: Jane Campion
Country: New Zealand
Language: English

For many, the first female director they have heard of would be Kathryn Bigelow. She was the first female to win Best Director, for The Hurt Locker (2009)  and remains 1 of 2 women to receive that award. For me, Jane Campion was my first. Her impressive feature The Piano (1993) was a tour de force that remains one of my favourite films. When I heard her latest feature, Power of the Dog, would premiere at TIFF I knew that I MUST see it.

Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother (George Burbank) brings home a new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her son, Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love.

Power of the Dog is not your typical Western; it's a slow burning melodrama that is filled to the brim with stunning cinematography shot in New Zealand. It has the look of an epic adventure film, but is far more psychological and mysterious. Campion strips away at the conventions of our typical idea of the West - mainly our perception of masculine myths. 

The hyper-masculinity of our characters' environment leave long lasting emotional scars that slowly transform them into pitiful humans. Cumberbatch steals every scene he's in as a repressed protagonist of our story. Jonny Greenwood's breathtaking & harrowing score underline the psychological drama that is unfolding within our eyes. Campion's direction proves to be flawless. 

Third runner up for the People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, Power of the Dog will certainly be a big contender come award's season. While slow paced pictures aren't everyone's cup of tea, I certainly found myself enthralled.