The Power of the Dog

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jane Campion directs. Ari Wegner behind the camera. Jonny Greenwood scores. Peter Sciberras cuts. Produced in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Released 5 years ago.
• 2International production across 4 countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom.
• 3Directed by Jane Campion, shot by Ari Wegner. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 4Original score by Jonny Greenwood. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 5Editor Peter Sciberras shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 6Benedict Cumberbatch and Kodi Smit-McPhee and Kirsten Dunst carry the top of the cast.
• 7IMDB entry: tt10293406 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 8Classified under 40 themes, including "husband wife relationship", "based on novel or book", "sadism", "sexuality".

The technical file

Cinematography

Ari Wegner

Original score

Jonny Greenwood

Editing

Peter Sciberras

Production design

Grant Major

Costume design

Kirsty Cameron

Makeup / hair

Noriko Watanabe

VFX supervisor

Jason Hawkins

Sound

Dave Whitehead

Stunt coordinator

Mark Harris

Runtime

127 min · 2h 7m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

R

IMDB

The Power of the Dog (2021) ↗

Also by

Jane Campion

• 
  Mishaps of Seduction and Conquest

  1984 · ★ 8.0
• 
  Le court des grands

  2005 · ★ 8.0
• 
  The Piano

  1993 · ★ 7.4
• 
  Top of the Lake

  2013 · ★ 7.0
• 
  An Angel at My Table

  1990 · ★ 7.0
• 
  Bright Star

  2009 · ★ 6.6

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Jane Campion Wins Best Directing for 'The Power of the Dog' | 94th Oscars

  Featurette · Official
• 

  ▶
  The Power of the Dog Live Score Performance: Jonny Greenwood x Wordless Music Orchestra

  Featurette · Official
• 

  ▶
  Jane Campion Wins Director | EE BAFTA Film Awards 2022

  Featurette · Official
• 

  ▶
  The Power of the Dog Wins Best Film | EE BAFTA Film Awards 2022

  Featurette · Official
• 

  ▶
  THE POWER OF THE DOG | Scene At The Academy

  Featurette · Official
• 

  ▶
  Tom Holland Interviews Benedict Cumberbatch on The Power of the Dog | Netflix

  Featurette · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Manuel São Bento2021-12-01
  ★ 8/10

  FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/the-power-of-the-dog-spoiler-free-review "The Power of the Dog is a thought-provoking, deep study of (toxic) masculinity surrounded by exceptional performances and truly stunning cinematography (Ari Wegner). Jane Campion breaks her decade-long directing hiatus, returning with an unconventional take on the western genre packed with heavy, rich themes, all developed through emotionally powerful, extraordinary character arcs. Despite the occasionally dull pacing and underwhelming ending, the layered narrative holds numerous interesting topics that Benedict Cumberbatch and co. Approach in incredibly tense interactions through the lingering camera, minimal editing (Peter Sciberras), and contemplative music (Jonny Greenwood). The aimless first half might only be a first-watch issue, but nothing that profoundly hurts the overall piece. An awards contender that I definitely recommend watching, even more than once." Rating: B+

  Read full review ↓
• badelf2021-12-19
  ★ 3/10

  Jane Campion's direction is top-notch, beautifully shot by Ari Wegner, and Johnny Greenwood's score fits like a soft leather glove. But that script - oh so Hollywood and oh so boring!! I want my 127 minutes back.

  Read full review ↓
• Giovanni2021-12-28
  ★ 10/10

  Full Explanation and Analysis at Spotamovie.com - The Story - The Power of the Dog, a book written by Thomas Savage in 1967, inspires the film. It’s not your typical western. No guns are involved, but something more complex and psychological. Located in Montana in 1925, two wealthy and different brothers, George and Phil, own a ranch.Their lives change when they meet Rose, a widow, mum to Peter, a delicate but intelligent guy. Different personalities and interests generate a hostile environment for all of our characters. After the chaos, the dreamed balance may rise again, but, first, the story will become intense, engaging and exhausting.What will happen between them? Why George and Phil are different? And what is The Power of the Dog? It’s a complex film, full of symbolism, metaphors and psychology. It’s well-directed, excellently performed by the whole cast. And it’s not a case that, as we mentioned above, Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst are in nominations as best actors at the Golden Globe 2022. - Analysis here https://www.spotamovie.com/the-power-of-the-dog-explanation-and-review-2021-movie/

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  See-Saw Films

  GB

• 

  Max Films

  CA

• BR

  Brightstar

  GB

• 

  New Zealand Film Commission

  NZ

• 

  Cross City Films

  AU

• 

  BBC Film

  GB

• BA

  Bad Girl Creek

  NZ

Key crew

• Title DesignerPeter Long
• First Assistant DirectorPhil Jones
• Second Assistant DirectorRenata Blaich
• Second Second Assistant DirectorMatt Johnston
• Drone OperatorBen Ruffell
• Still PhotographerKirsty Griffin
• First Assistant "A" CameraDaniel Foeldes
• ThanksBryan Haas
• Co-ProducerLibby Sharpe
• Co-ProducerChloe Smith
• Associate ProducerPhil Jones
• Makeup DesignerNoriko Watanabe
• Hair DesignerNoriko Watanabe
• Line ProducerChloe Smith
• Unit Production ManagerMoira Grant
• Script SupervisorKath Thomas
• FinanceSteven McKinnon
• Post Production SupervisorColleen Clarke
• Steadicam OperatorGrant Adams
• Camera OperatorGrant Adams
• Second Unit Director of PhotographyGrant Adams
• First Assistant "A" CameraBen Rowsell
• First Assistant "B" CameraHenry West
• Second Assistant "A" CameraNick Willoughby

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• husband wife relationship
• based on novel or book
• sadism
• sexuality
• widow
• montana
• eroticism
• banjo
• cigarette
• ranch
• marriage
• bullying
• death of father
• sexual tension
• period drama
• masturbation
• alcoholic
• humiliation
• gender roles
• cowboy
• homoeroticism
• lgbt
• misogynist
• mentor protégé relationship
• woman director
• medical student
• drunkenness
• masculinity
• aggressive
• animal cruelty
• 1920s
• hula hoop
• mother son relationship
• brother brother relationship
• repressed sexuality
• gay theme
• brothers
• homosexuality
• 20th century
• tense

Release history · US

When it landed

• Premiere2021-09-04· Telluride Film Festival
• Premiere2021-10-01· New York Film Festival
• Premiere2021-10-08· Mill Valley Film Festival
• Premiere2021-10-09· Hamptons International Film Festival
• Premiere2021-10-15· Heartland International Film Festival / San Diego International Film Festival
• Premiere2021-10-17· Chicago International Film Festival
• Premiere2021-10-22· Newport Beach International Film Festival
• Premiere2021-10-30· Montclair Film Festival / Virginia Film Festival
• Premiere2021-11-11· AFI Fest
• Premiere2021-11-20· Key West Film Festival

Also known as

International titles

• Köpeğin PençesiTR
• Psie PazutyPL
• El poder del perroES
• 犬山记SG
• Ataque dos CãesBR
• 파워 오브 도그KR
• 犬之力CN