The Power of the Dog (2021)

In the rugged expanse of 1925 Montana, the Burbank brothers are prosperous ranchers, led by the enigmatic and fearsome Phil Burbank. His pale, handsome features mask a soul as raw and untamed as the hides he works. Phil's power and magnetism are intertwined with a haunting past and inseparable from the land he roams. A man who can castrate a bull calf with cold precision, a man who basks in naked abandon beneath the river's flow, his essence is as much a part of the wild as the mud smeared on his skin. Intruders stumble into this visceral world: Rose, a widowed restaurant owner, and Peter, her sensitive son. They first encounter the Burbank brothers at the Red Mill, their path crossing with the brothers' journey to the market. Phil's cruel jests and mocking laughter echo through the air, driving Rose and Peter to the brink of tears. All while his brother George, a more gentle spirit, offers comfort and solace, and eventually, marriage to the distressed Rose. Upon their return, Phil's torment of the new family members takes on a sinister tone. He becomes an eerie phantom in Rose's peripheral vision, his whistling a chilling reminder of a song she's lost. His ridicule of Peter becomes a grotesque show, encouraged by the raucous laughter of his loyal cowhands. Yet, in an unexpected twist, Phil appears to take Peter under his protective wing. This sudden change leaves us questioning - is this an indication of Phil's vulnerability and a new found capacity for love, or a dark plot spiralling further into threat and intimidation? As Phil oscillates between rage and cunning, "The Power of The Dog" unveils a riveting tale of raw emotions, twisted power dynamics, and the dangerously thin line that separates love from hate.

The Power of the Dog is a drama movie featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and directed by Jane Campion.

The Power of the Dog is currently streaming on Netflix and Netflix basic with Ads.