The Power of the Dog

Name: The Power of the Dog
Genre: Drama
Released: November 17, 2021
Duration: 125 min
Rating: 89
Cast: Adam Beach, Alice May Connolly, Benedict Cumberbatch, Frances Conroy, Geneviève Lemon

2021

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 58 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 394 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	Your Score
6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 394 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: November 17, 2021 | Not Rated

Starring: Adam Beach, Alice May Connolly, Benedict Cumberbatch, Frances Conroy, Geneviève Lemon, Jesse Plemons, Karl Willetts, Keith Carradine, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Sean Keenan, Thomasin McKenzie

Movie Facts:

Led all 2021 films with 12 nominations for the 94th Academy Awards.

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

Director: Jane Campion

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 125 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Stephanie Zacharek

Sep 2, 2021

This is a movie as big as the open sky, but one where human emotions are still distinctly visible, as fine and sharp as a blade of grass. Read full review

100

Moira Macdonald

Nov 17, 2021

It’s a unique ride of a movie, beautiful and disturbing and haunting — in other words, it’s a Jane Campion film. Read full review

100

Olly Richards

Jan 28, 2022

Campion reveals her characters slowly, drawing out crucial details that we should have seen all along with a subtly that will make repeat watches richly rewarding. It’s a triumph. A ten-year wait for her next film would be too much. Read full review

Brian Truitt

Nov 29, 2021

The period drama The Power of the Dog is a picturesque, enthralling exploration of male ego and toxic masculinity, crafted by an extremely talented woman and offering enough nuanced bite to keep it interesting till the very end. Read full review

The Film Stage David Katz

Sep 2, 2021

The Power of the Dog has attributes that recall her past work but pleasingly seems––if not a new direction––that Campion is drawing upon a fresh skillset to best do this tale justice. Read full review

Andy Howell

Sep 13, 2021

It is a worthy return to feature directing by Jane Campion and a thoroughly relevant film to our modern discourse. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Nov 18, 2021

Insisting on the significance of its themes, the film dispenses one emotion at a time while it creates a pervasive atmosphere of dread. Yet there’s no air in the atmosphere, not much life in the brooding landscapes. Read full review

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User Reviews

Kotare

Nov 21, 2021

This film just blew me away. Can't stop thinking about it; it's one of those films that you need a repeat reviewing which I think is the greatest praise.

8 of 13 users found this helpful85

Ghazale77

Dec 2, 2021

من عاشق این فیلم شدم. واقعا هنرمندانه هست و بندیکت کامبربچ واقعا خوش درخشیده.

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

LisaLR1

Dec 13, 2021

"The Power of the Dog," is the latest film from director Jane Campion ("Bright Star," "The Piano"), based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage. The movie features a masterful, intense lead performance by actor Benedict Cumberbatch ("The Courier," "The Imitation Game," TV's"The Power of the Dog," is the latest film from director Jane Campion ("Bright Star," "The Piano"), based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage. The movie features a masterful, intense lead performance by actor Benedict Cumberbatch ("The Courier," "The Imitation Game," TV's "Sherlock") who plays Phil Burbank, 1 of 2 brothers, the other brother, George Burbank played by Jesse Plemons, who own and run a ranch in 1925 Montana. Phil is an intimadating, bullying and manipulative character, while brother, George is more timid, gentle and soft spoken. When George meets widow, marries and brings home new wife, Rose Gordon (Kirsten Dunst) & her son, Peter Gordon (Kodi Smit-McPhee), Phil proceeds to taunt and torment his new in-laws, until he discovers the possibility of new found love. Phil takes the quiet-natured, awkward young Peter under his wings, with a twist to the plot that features an ending you may, or may not, have seen coming. Rural New Zealand replaces Montana and is beautifully photographed by Cinematographer Ari Wegner, with a brilliantly crafted, haunting score by Jonny Greenwood.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

disobedientlib

Dec 13, 2021

I don't really understand the critic love for this movie. The ending seemed so obvious to me; almost ham-fisted in the hints given along the way. It is set at a turtle's pace. There is great cinematography and set design and good acting here, but hardly worth critics falling over themselvesI don't really understand the critic love for this movie. The ending seemed so obvious to me; almost ham-fisted in the hints given along the way. It is set at a turtle's pace. There is great cinematography and set design and good acting here, but hardly worth critics falling over themselves to praise it so much.… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

icotzabb

Dec 5, 2021

Despite some impressive visuals the script is just terrible and fractured. At times the score is just confusing and not congruent with scenes.

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

FATMANGOBOOM

Jan 28, 2022

One of the worst movies I have ever seen… no one acts likes this and it is just bad… you find yourself waiting and waiting for it to get better but it does not it just gets worst…

Put it this way, I would rather piss on an electric fence then suffer watching this movie again…

9 of 11 users found this helpful92

ko805

Mar 26, 2022

My wife and I suffered through this movie and concluded it was probably the worst movie ever (I disagreed, I thought Jaws 15 was far worse). It's amazing anybody agreed to fund another boring Jane Campion movie - what is her obsession with pianos!? Everybody overacted except "Bronco Henry",My wife and I suffered through this movie and concluded it was probably the worst movie ever (I disagreed, I thought Jaws 15 was far worse). It's amazing anybody agreed to fund another boring Jane Campion movie - what is her obsession with pianos!? Everybody overacted except "Bronco Henry", a too-friendly uncle represented by a shrine featuring his saddle. The plot was unintentionally funny because it was so absurd. The music score sounded like a bunch of novice musicians all playing different songs. However, these are the kind of movies that "critics" love because it checks all their PC boxes. I suspect the vast majority of 5-star "audience" ratings came from those who funded or worked on the movie. You can always tell rating manipulations when there is an overwhelming number of truthful 1-star reviews. Rating sites need to do a better job filtering out these economically biased ratings.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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14	#14 Best Movie of 2021
30	#30 Most Discussed Movie of 2021