Alien at the Movies

The Power of the Dog

In 1925 Montana, two wealthy cattle rancher brothers, Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) & George (Jesse Plemons) have opposite personalities. Phil is volatile & domineering. George is kind & gentle. George is attracted to Rose (Kirsten Dunst) & soon marries her. Rose has an older son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) who is studying to be a surgeon & is teased for being on the effeminate side. Phil & Rose don’t get along. Rose takes to drinking in secret. The acting is superb but not much real action occurs. One may start to wonder what is the point of this film that seems to be going nowhere. Finally, as the end approaches, its message becomes clear. 

Alien gives it 2½ “Bronco Henry” stars out of 4.