The Power of the Dog (2021)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Phil Burbank	Benedict Cumberbatch
Rose Gordon	Kirsten Dunst
George Burbank	Jesse Plemons
Peter Gordon	Kodi Smit-McPhee	½
Lola	Thomasin McKenzie	½
Mrs. Lewis	Genevieve Lemon	-
Governor Edward	Keith Carradine	-
Mrs. Burbank	Frances Conroy	-
Mr. Burbank	Peter Carroll	-

Review

Jane Campion's thematic follow-up to Piano is a slow, introspective mood piece about family ties, personal secrets and suppressed sexuality set in 1920s rural Montana. The film is atmospheric in Campion's simmering, understated fashion, but it oversells its message and emotional context. We're under the skins of the characters before Campion lets them get there themselves, which contributes to making their lethargic soul-searching pretentious and perfunctory. Some of Campion's artistic touches, such as the infinite equine/human juxtapositions, are excessive at best and outright cringeworthy at worst. And the climax of the story, although technically well structured, is so literary and grandiose in scope that Kodi Smit-McPhee's anachronistic character cannot carry it. Attractive, diachronic production values and a beautiful score by Jonny Greenwood are two of a handful redeeming qualities.