The Power of the Dog
Animal cruelty and content that may disturb Rated on: 16 November 2021
What’s it about?
Set in rural Montana, USA, in 1925. Phil, a domineering, charismatic rancher runs the family ranch with his quiet brother George. Phil responds with mocking cruelty when George brings home new wife Rose, and her introverted, effete teenage son Peter. The unexpected comes to pass when Phil's treatment of Peter grows tender, and he takes him under his wing to show him the ways taught to him by his beloved mentor Bronco Henry.
The facts
- Directed by Jane Campion
- Starring Benedict Cumberbatch (The Roses), Kirsten Dunst (Civil War), Jesse Plemons (Bugonia) and Kodi Smit-McPhee (X-Men: Dark Phoenix)
- Language: English
- Runtime: 127 minutes
- Based on the novel by Thomas Savage
Why did it get this rating?
Animal cruelty
There is cruelty and visceral harm to animals which some viewers might find shocking or upsetting. The strongest scenes include:
- A bull is castrated on screen, with visible blood and detail.
- A rabbit is trapped, killed and dissected. The dissection is shown in some detail.
- Another rabbit has its neck broken, although this happens off screen.
- A horse is struck by a character.
- There are several shots of dead and butchered animal carcasses, including animals being skinned.
Content that may disturb
The film explores themes of bullying, intimidation and psychological abuse. A teenage boy is repeatedly humiliated and targeted by an adult man, while a woman is subjected to ongoing psychological torment that causes her significant distress. There is also a bloody hand injury and references to suicide, with a character's death revealed towards the end of the film.
Coarse language
Coarse language includes frequent indults and abusive language including "b*tch", "wh*re", and "ass". Language also includes homophobic slurs and derogatory language.
Sexual reference
There are references to sexual activity and male sexuality, including a man implied to be masturbating, a couple heard having sex with sexual moaning, and brief references to erections and sexual attraction. There is also full-frontal male nudity in scenes where men bathe together.
Helplines
The animal cruelty and themes of bullying and abuse could be upsetting for some viewers, especially for those who have gone through similar experiences. If you are struggling with what you have seen on-screen please reach out for help. If you or someone you know needs to talk:
Further information
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