2021’s The Power of the Dog is the Netflix original by director and screenwriter, Jane Campion, which by the end, subverted the film’s initial theme of repression.
Overview
Jane Campion is the writer and director of the 2021 Netflix original dramatic film, The Power of the Dog, which has generated Oscar and BAFTA buzz.
The film is the adaptation of Thomas Savage’s novel of the same name. The film is a compelling film which subverts the initial presumed theme of the film.
The Power of the Dog led audiences to believe that it could only end in one way. However, as the film’s anti-protagonist dies from anthrax poisoning towards the end of the film, the cause of his death subverts the entire film from the theme of repressed homosexuality, to one of revenge.
What is The Power of the Dog?
The Power of the Dog saw respected and acclaimed film director, Jane Campion return to her talents, as she is beloved for by telling a dark, and compelling story.
Adapting the 1967 Western novel of the same name by Thomas Savage, The Power of the Dog is premised on, “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.”
Benedict Cumberbatch leads the star-studded cast as Phil Burbank, with Jesse Plemons playing his younger brother, George, Kirsten Dunst as George’s wife, Rose and Kodi Smit-McPhee as Rose’s son Peter.
Power of the Dog: Ending explained
The film is set in Montana 1925. It kicks into action when Peter first brings his new widowed wife Rose to live with him and Phil on the ranch.
Things get worse when Rose’s son Peter arrives from his college break where he is studying to become a surgeon. Due to his effeminate nature, he is the object of ridicule by Phil, who attempts to get the staff on the ranch to join in.
However, the two begin to bond. More so, as Phil begins to open up about his close, possibly homosexual, relationship with his cowboy mentor, Bronco Henry.
Moreover, Peter gifts Phil cowhide gloves and helps him to mend the lasso, resulting in them both cutting their hands. With this, audiences believed that the two might spark some kind of romantic relationship.
However, Phil wakes up the next day sick and is later confirmed to have anthrax poisoning, which becomes the cause of his death.
Returning home, Peter reads the bible verse Psalm 22 verse 20, which states, “Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.”
He then completes the lasso, before the film’s final scene which shows George and Rose happy together on the farm.
Implications of The Power of the Dog’s ending
The ending of the film’s adaptation suggests that Peter poisoned Phil. More so, as in retrospect, the scene where Peter is found dissecting a rabbit adds to the implication of his actions.
However, his motives are unclear as to whether he poisoned Phil because of his initial homophobic treatment, or if it was to protect his mother who was sinking deeper into alcoholism due to Phil’s torment or both.
Campion also explained, “As the title stands, it’s a kind of warning… The power of the dog is all those urges, all those deep, uncontrollable urges that can come and destroy us, you know?”
Phil’s action confirmed
The novel did not leave the matter of Phil’s actions to the audience to decide, as it concluded with the book reverting to a medical book which Phil was reading about anthrax.
Initially, the film was meant to have a similar ending with the last sequence being a scene of the camera panning to the book which Phil used to read up on anthrax poisoning.
In relation to the last scene, in an interview with The Wrap, the editor of The Power of the Dog, Peter Sciberras stated, “We had a beautifully crafted shot, which would have been the last shot of the film.”
However, Campion made the decision to use the alternate closing scene which allowed for the ambiguity at the end of the film.
Inspiration for The Power of the Dog
Thomas Savage wrote The Power of the Dog in 1967. It is believed that the novel is inspired by his own life. This is as despite being married to Elizabeth Savage-Fitzgerald, Savage was believed to have been a closeted homosexual.
Moreover, the character of Rose was inspired by his mother, who also dealt with alcoholism during her life. More so, as the novel is set in Montana and Savage also grew up in a small rural Western town during his early formative years.
Final thoughts
The Power of the Dog has earned 12 Oscar nominations for the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony, with the film’s main cast all earning nominations for their compelling performances in the film. More especially, young talent Kodi Smit-McPhee, as this marks his first Oscar nomination.
The film’s closing scenes leave the matter of Phil’s anthrax poisoning to the audience to decide whether it was due to the lasso cut on his hand, or if it was Peter and the cowhide gloves he gifted Peter. The book, however, does not leave the matter to ambiguity.