The Power of The Dog

Spoiler alert - I may be dense, but did Peter intentionally provide Phil with anthrax laced rawhide? It seems like the only logical answer.

OP, you thick cunt, this film has already been discussed to death on here.

You’re a thick cunt R2. Do you think I didn’t search it up and read the dead stump threads before posting? Nobody discussed the film in any detail. (and now you can be an even bigger cunt and start linking to specific posts).

r1 Jane Campion intentionally left a lot to the viewer’s imagination. But yeah, he definitely did. He got it from that dead cow. The confirmation comes at the end of the film when his mom and fatso come back from dinner sober. He’s watching from upstairs, turns and smiles.

Are we going to be subjected to "couples" acting together from now on?

Kirsten and Jesse

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard

Melissa McCarthy and whatshisname

It takes me out of the movie.

I love Kirsten but couldn’t get through this - I had to turn it off when Benjamin’s character started punching a tied up horse in the face - nope!

R6, that scene really disturbed me too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a character punching a horse in the face on film before.

R7-Blazing Saddles.

r6 it did seem like he was actually punching the horse in the face.

But he was supposed to be an asshole so it fit his character. And his carelessness toward other creatures/people. Except for Bronco Henry.

[Quote] Getting tired of that “I smell something bad and it’s probably me” look

🤣🤣🤣 you beitch.

Did I see a dick? I think I saw a dick. Just a flash.

Oh yes. You did.

Thanks r13 I wonder if he'd shown up shaved on set, would Campion have made Cumberbatch sport a merkin? Wardrobe and makeup departments must know these things or do they not get the script?

For R7, a horse getting slapped.

Enjoyed it, but was left wondering if it might seem to be a bit more than it is to the hetero crowd?

It was clear to me from scene one—with Benedict Cumberbatch reacting so defensively about the paper flowers—that we were supposed to take him as repressed/closeted. The movie then removed all ambiguity when Kodi Smit-McPhee discovers the gay porn in the woods, and Cumberbatch jerks off into his mentor’s scarf. I actually think all of that came off as gilding the lily.

I think the only ambiguity or nuance was in the power dynamics between Cumberbatch (who was himself groomed, and seemingly doing the same) and Kodi. Was Kodi supposed to actually be gay? A sociopath? He did seem very calculated in hugs final seduction scene with Cumberbatch, but obviously there’s an extra layer of him being a child and being pursued by an adult.

Overall, interesting. Great performances. But I did find it all a bit obvious and unsubtle?

R13 parts of it were but not the core question of Kodi’s sexuality, as you note. did anyone ready the book????

What a snorefest.

so what’s the read on Sam Elliott eviscerating this? His comments are pretty inarticulate, but I can’t help wondering how much of it is fueled by homophobia?

But power of the dog is based on a novel from 1967 by a man, Thomas savage. Jane campion simply filmed it. I didn’t read the novel so unless she changed it drastically and included a homosexual element that wasn’t already there… regardless I guess Elliott is just not into brokeback mountain and this one. Personally it made westerns more relatable for me as a gay man.

All the gay stuff is in the novel.

*SPOILER* R13 Pete (Kodi) is a psychopath, and 100% murdered his own father. His mother knows this, hence her alcoholism.

I watched this last night, using last year's threads as Cliff's Notes. I loved it and will probably rewatch it to catch things I missed the first time.

Question: Someone mentioned that it's implied that Peter has a boyfriend. When was that?

R22, I didn't catch that—I thought Rose drank because Phil was a raging asshole.

[quote] Question: Someone mentioned that it's implied that Peter has a boyfriend. When was that?

He is trying on clothes with his mom and he mentions he made a friend at school. He says they call each other nicknames based on what they're going to school for or something along those lines. I don't recall anything being said that implies a gay relationship but of course people on DL assume so.

I am embarrassed to admit that the movie went over my head the first time I saw it but I watched it again last night and sure enough ....it is pretty much all right there in front of you if you pay attention. I still say an additional scene or two demonstrating how Phil is tormenting Rose leading her to heavy drinking would have helped. It's sort of puzzling why she is acting like such a basket case when the governor and her in-laws come for the visit. The scene where Phil plays the banjo to mock her piano playing makes sense on hindsight but when I saw it for the first time I actually found it ambiguous, as though he might be softening toward Rose and playing along with her. Regardless on second viewing I found it to be a pretty great movie!