Director Jane Campion’s western-drama hit Netflix last November, and “powerful” would be an excellent word to describe it.The Power of the Dogtakes place in Montana in 1925; it follows Benedict Cumberbatch and Jesse Plemons as ranch owners and brothers Phil and George Burbank, respectively.
For one night, they stay in an inn run by widow Rose, played by Kirsten Dunst, and her quiet and caring son Peter, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee. Phil mocks Peter much to his detriment while George and Rose fall in love. When George and Rose eventually get married, Phil ends up spending much of his time at the ranch, most of it focusing on tormenting both Rose and Peter.
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Receiving critical acclaim,The Power of the Doghas a slow-burn tension; led by an amazing (and terrifying) performance from Cumberbatch,which is a huge departure from his usual roles. Of course, there are plenty of other films that reach for the same intensity and suspense as Campion’s film. While some movies could be seen as practically an extension ofThe Power of the Dog, others take its ideas and place them in a new genre or setting entirely. The result is always the same, however: brilliant movies that build their tension slowly over the course of two hours.
6There Will Be Blood
Arguably the most similar toThe Power of the Dog, Paul Thomas Anderson’s drama hits just as hard today as it did nearly 15 years ago. Daniel Day-Lewis plays Daniel Plainview, an oilman who pursues a never-ending quest for oil and wealth in the late 19th century. In doing so, he destroys the lives of everyone around him, including his adopted son, played by Dillon Freasier, and a local preacher, played by Paul Dano. Led bythe incredible performance from the talented Lewis,There Will Be Blooddraws its power from the expert writing and directing from Anderson. Plainview is a classic example of an anti-hero; a protagonist so infused with greed that he can’t see the harm that he inflicts.
It’s impossible not the see the influenceThere Will Be Bloodhas onThe Power of the Dog. Both films are set in similar time periods. They both not only feature a terrifying main character driven to do horrible things but are also both played fiercely by their respected actors. What Campion draws most from Anderson, however, is the tone. Both films feature the same slow-burn tension as the lead characters spiral further and further down the rabbit hole of insanity. An essential watch, Anderson fans should also be excited forthe acclaimedLicorice Pizzareleasing later this year.
5Let Him Go
This neo-western thriller remains one ofthe most underrated movies from 2020. Based on the novel of the same name,Let Him Gofollows Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as married ranchers George and Margaret, respectively; they marry their widowed daughter-in-law Lorna, played by Kayli Carter, off to a man named Donnie Weaboy, played by Will Brittain. When they come to suspect Donnie may be mistreating Lorna and her young son, George and Margaret investigate the Weaboy family; a family living off-the-grid who seem to take pleasure in their abuse over others.
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Let Him Gosees the events ofThe Power of the Dogplay out in the modern day. With a similar setting,Let Him Gohas the same sort of suspense asThe Power of the Dog, as well as a similar conflict of an abusive outsider tormenting a family. The Weaboy matriarch Blanche is played with enormous conviction by Lesley Manville. Easily one of the best film villains of 2020, Manville commands the same sort of power as Cumberbatch and is also just as terrifying.
4Cape Fear
Both the 1962 film from J. Lee Thompson and the 1991 remake from Martin Scorsese could fit in here,but most audiences will be more familiar with Scorsese’s takeon the story. Robert De Niro plays Max Cady, a convict released from prison after 14 years. He then proceeds to continuously attack and torment Nick Nolte’s Sam Bowden, the lawyer who attempted to defend Max 14 years prior, as well as Sam’s entire family.
WhileCape Fearmay not take place in the old west, it has enough in common so that anyone who enjoyedThe Power of the Dogshould also enjoy Scorsese’s thriller. Max isn’t only as terrifying as Phil Burbank but he is perhaps even more so. He already begins the film unhinged, and he only grows worse and worse from there. Much like Cumberbatch with Phil, De Niro brings the same power to his take on Max Cadyas he does with any of his iconic film roles. Both films also center on a family desperate to escape the torment of one man who just can’t seem to let them go.
3Hud
Hudmay as well be the 1960s version ofThe Power of the Dog. Starring Paul Newman in one of his most acclaimed and subversive roles,Hudfollows its title character, a self-centered and womanizing rancher living with his father Homer, played by Melvyn Douglas. Hud had previously killed his brother in a car accident and has since become an alcoholic. Amidst an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease among the cattle, Hud and his father are drawn into a conflict with each other.
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Though many at the time found Newman to be charismatic and charming, the intent was actually quite the opposite. Director Martin Ritt had intended for Hud to be a sort of anti-hero. Much like Phil, Hud is anything but an ideal protagonist, and much like Cumberbatch, Newman delivers an amazing performance that earned him an Oscar nomination. BothHudandThe Power of the Dogalso have similar settings and draw out their tension slowly over their runtime.
2What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?
Another film from the early 60s,What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?confines the tensions and horrors of Campion’s movie to a single household. The film follows two central characters; the first is Jane Hudson, played by Bette Davis, and the second is her sister Blanche, played by Joan Crawford. At a young age, Jane was a classic and popular child singer while Blanche could only watch her fame from the sidelines. Years later, Blanche’s acting career took off while Jane’s fame faded into obscurity. After a car accident, Blanche becomes paralyzed and can only be taken care of by the angry and resentful Jane.
Since Jane blames Blanche for her career sinking, she proceeds to torment her sister much like Phil with his extended family. While many of the films here feature antagonists who inflict some sort of physical abuse,Baby Janeis similar toThe Power of the Dogin the fact that both Phil and Jane mostly inflict psychological abuse on their victims instead. Both Davis and Crawford are fantastic in their roles, with Davis, in particular, being just as terrifying as Cumberbatch.
1The Piano
Taking a break from nail-biting thrillers, new fans of Jane Campion might be interested in taking a look at her previously acclaimed films. In particular,The Piano, which earned her the Palme d’Or and a Best Picture Oscar nomination. In the movie, Holly Hunter plays Ada McGrath, a mute Scottish woman who moves with her young daughter for her arranged marriage to a frontiersman, played by Sam Neil. However, Ada instead finds herself being drawn to acquaintance George Baines, played by Harvey Keitel. As anyone can imagine, this inevitably creates a wave of conflict between Ada and her husband.
While the genre may be different,The Pianoshould be enjoyable to anyone who enjoyed the artistic styling ofThe Power of the Dog. Both films share a connection to New Zealand;The Power of the Dogmay not take place in New Zealand likeThe Piano, but it was actually filmed there,much like many other movies in Hollywood. Similar toThe Power of the Dog,The Pianowas met with widespread acclaim, with praise being given to not only Campion but also the performances of Hunter and Anna Paquin. All three went on to win Oscars; Paquin in particular remains the second-youngest person ever to win a competitive Oscar.
