The Power of the Dog
Phil Burbank, a dark-eyed, handsome man, is incredibly seductive. Phil Burbank’s love, power, and fragility are all held in the past. He can castrate bull calfs with just two quick slashes with his knife. In the river, he will swim naked, covering his entire body in mud. His hides are as raw as his cowboy. It is the year 1925. Montana’s wealthy Burbank brothers are ranchers. Rose, a widowed woman and her young son Peter meet the Burbank brothers at the Red Mill restaurant while they are on their way to the market. Phil acts so cruelly that he drives the brothers to tears. He revels in their pain and makes his cowhands laugh – except George who consoles Rose before returning to his family to wed her. Phil’s taunting Rose alternates between cunning and fury. He hovers around Rose’s vision, waving a song she cannot play, while his cunning swings from fury to cunning. Phil’s cowhand followers cheer him on, making his mockery more obvious. Phil then appears to be taking the boy under his wings. Phil is left to wonder if this gesture was a gentler approach that exposes Phil, or an attempt at feigning more menace. –Netflix
Director: Jane Campion
Actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Frances Conroy, Jesse Plemons, Keith Carradine, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Thomasin McKenzie
Country: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States
