Hello, Readers! Jane Campion hasn’t had a picture out in almost a decade, but her new feature The Power of the Dog marks a triumphant return for the Oscar-winning director.
With Campion’s brilliant direction, great performances from Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst, and a fantastic score from Jonny Greenwood, it’s a film that seems like it’ll be nominated for a slew of awards when the time comes. Following a brief theatrical run, Netflix will release the Western drama, which is based on Thomas Savage’s classic 1967 novel of the same name.
The Power of the Dog: Release Date
On December 1st, 2021, the film will be released on Netflix. It had a limited theatrical release beginning on Friday, November 19th, after premiering at the Venice Film Festival in September and playing at the London Film Festival a month later.
The Power of the Dog: Official Trailer
What is this about?
The film is set in the 1920s and follows two brothers, Phil and George Burbank, who manage a cattle ranch in Montana and have shared a bedroom for 40 years. While Phil, the mercurial and oftentimes ruthless statesman, is a master of speech and statesmanship, George is the polar opposite, quiet and faithful.
When George secretly marries Rose, a widow with an effeminate, “sissy” kid, an enraged Phil plots retribution against mother and son.
The official synopsis for Netflix’s The Power of the Dog is as follows:
“Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother brings home a new wife and her son, Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love.”
Cast and Characters
The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank, Jesse Plemons (I’m Thinking of Ending Things) as his brother George, and Kirsten Dunst, in her first film appearance in four years, as Rose, who was supposed to be played by Elisabeth Moss.
Rose’s son Peter is played by Kodi Smit-McPhee (Dark Phoenix), Lola is played by Thomasin McKenzie (Last Night in Soho), and Governor Edward is played by Keith Carradine (Dexter).