The Power of the Dog

Directed by Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog details the tumult that ensues after a widow (Kirsten Dunst’s Rose) and her son (Kodi Smit- McPhee’s Peter) move into a ranch operated by two squabbling brothers (Jesse Plemons’ George and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Phil). Filmmaker Campion, working from her own screenplay, does a superb job of initially establishing the severe landscape and the disparate, distinctive characters that inhabit it, and there’s little doubt, certainly, that the movie’s instantly-compelling atmosphere is heightened and perpetuated by Jonny Greenwood’s menacing score, Ari Wegner’s striking cinematography, and a series of memorable, above-average performances – with, in terms of the latter, Cumberbatch’s oddball yet completely captivating turn as the seemingly menacing Phil remaining a consistent highlight within the proceedings. The deliberateness with which the narrative unfolds is, as a result, hardly as problematic or distracting as one might’ve anticipated, while the far-from-predictable bent of Campion’s screenplay effectively subverts the viewer’s expectations and paves the way for a surprising (and sporadically) shocking final third that’s nothing short of electrifying – which does, in the end, cement The Power of the Dog‘s place as a first-class adaptation that lingers in one’s mind long after the credits have finished rolling.

***1/2 out of ****