The Power of the Dog

After making history in 1993 for being the second woman to receive the Academy Awards Best Director nomination for The Piano, and after a 12 year hiatus, writer-director Jane Campion returns to the big screen with The Power of the Dog, an adaptation of the acclaimed 1967 novel by Thomas Savage, by the same title.

In this intriguing neo-western, set on a cattle ranch in
1925 Montana, the rugged, unpleasant, mean-spirited Phil Burbank (British actor Benedict Cumberbatch), lives with his kind and gentle brother George (Jesse Plemons). 

When George moves into the ranch his newlywed bride, widower Rose Gordon (Plemon's real life partner Kirsten Dunst) and her non-masculine teenager son Peter (Australian Kodi Smit-McPhee), Phil goes out of his way to let the newcomers know that their presence is unwelcome and turns their existence into living hell. A shift in dynamics takes place when Phil suddenly changes tactics deciding to mentor Peter. 

Craftily weaving the plot into new depths, Campion masterfully orchestrates a tense, gripping, complex web. While restraining from connecting the dots, she gradually unfolds the multi-layered plot with precision and finesse, leading to a breath-taking finale.

The feature is packed with stellar, riveting performances throughout however, Oscar nominated Cumberbatch's multi-faceted portrayal stands out as his best performance
to date.

Augmenting the memorable renditions are cinematographer Ari Wegner's sweeping long lenses and immersive visuals, Grant Majors' production design as well as Oscar nominated Jonny Greenwood's (Spencer, Licorice Pizza) dark, original score.

A do not miss.