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The Power of the Dog
2021 127 min Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom R 16+
★7.8
Drama, Western
Director: Jane Campion
🎭 Based on
«The Power of the Dog»
byThomas Savage
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Description
A domineering but charismatic rancher wages a war of intimidation on his brother's new wife and her teen son, until long-hidden secrets come to light.
Starring
Benedict Cumberbatch
Actor
Kirsten Dunst
Actor
Jesse Plemons
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 2022
— Best Director
Golden Globe 2022
— Best Picture (Drama)
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2021
— Sebastian Prize
Golden Globe 2022
— Best Original Score
Academy Awards 2022
— Best Director
BAFTA 2022
— Best Cinematography
BAFTA 2022
— Best Original Score
Academy Awards 2022
— Best Original Score
BAFTA 2022
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Golden Globe 2022
— Best Picture (Drama)
Academy Awards 2022
— Best Film Editing
Golden Globe 2022
— Best Supporting Actress
Academy Awards 2022
— Best Actor
Golden Globe 2022
— Best Screenplay
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2021
— Sebastian Prize
BAFTA 2022
— Best Actor
Academy Awards 2022
— Best Sound
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2022
— Best Supporting Actress
Academy Awards 2022
— Best Picture
Venice Film Festival 2021
— Golden Lion
Academy Awards 2022
— Best Supporting Actor
Golden Globe 2022
— Best Supporting Actor
Golden Globe 2022
— Best Director
BAFTA 2022
— Best Director
Academy Awards 2022
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Academy Awards 2022
— Best Cinematography
Academy Awards 2022
— Best Production Design
Venice Film Festival 2021
— Silver Lion – Best Director
BAFTA 2022
— Best Picture
Academy Awards 2022
— Best Supporting Actress
BAFTA 2022
— Best Supporting Actor
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2022
— Best Supporting Actor
Key opinion
The Power of the Dog is a slow-burn, atmospheric psychological drama that subverts traditional Western tropes to explore themes of toxic masculinity and repressed desire. While it earns high praise for its technical craftsmanship and powerful performances, its deliberate, meditative pacing creates a significant divide among viewers.
| Cinematography | Ari Wegner’s stunning cinematography transforms the Montana landscape into a vital, atmospheric character. | |
| Score | Johnny Greenwood’s evocative, tense score masterfully heightens the film's looming sense of unease. | |
| Acting | Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a compelling, complex performance as the fragile and tyrannical Phil Burbank. | |
| Acting | Kodi Smit-McPhee provides a standout, subtle performance that serves as the narrative's emotional anchor. | |
| Pacing | The film's deliberate, slow-burn tempo rewards viewers seeking deep character study, while others find the lack of traditional action and sluggish progression exhausting. | |
| Ending | Opinions on the ending are polarized, with some praising its subtle, clever structure and others finding it abrupt or unsatisfying. |