Review: The Power of the Dog (2021)
Movie: The Power of the Dog (2021). I hate westerns. But luckily this isn’t your typical one. Firstly, it’s shot in New Zealand which gives it a different feel and look - and there’s some stunning scenery shots. Secondly, there’s not a single gun fight. In fact, I’m not sure I even saw a gun in the entire film. So no, this isn’t your typical western. This is a story about masculinity, isolation and secrets - that happens to have a western backdrop.
It’s a tad slow in parts - though mostly engaging throughout. But while you spend a lot of time with the characters, they all still felt quite distant to me come the end. I never really got to know them, somehow. They remained mostly just outlines to me. Though maybe that’s the point.
All in all though, this is a good film. All of the performances are subtle and beautifully pained. And I reckon it might benefit from a second viewing, and my rating may go up after that. 7/10 (very close to being 4/5 though)
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