Year: 2021
Runtime: 125 min
Language: English
Director: Jane Campion
In 1925 Montana, Phil Burbank is a charismatic and intimidating rancher who enjoys dominating those around him with his hyper-masculine persona. The arrival of Rose Gordon and her teenage son Peter disrupts the established order on the ranch. Phil takes a particular interest in Peter, exerting a psychological influence that challenges the boy’s confidence and tests the stability of Rose's fragile existence. As tensions escalate, the underlying complexities of Phil’s character are revealed, blurring the lines between cruelty and vulnerability.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of The Power of the Dog (2021), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
In 1925 Montana, wealthy ranch owner brothers Phil Burbank and George Burbank encounter widow and innkeeper Rose Gordon during a cattle drive. The gentler George is infatuated with Rose right away, but Phil, influenced by his late mentor Bronco Henry, is more confrontational, cruelly mocking Rose’s son Peter for his lisp and effeminate demeanor. As George and Rose marry, she utilizes George’s financial support to send Peter to medical school while settling into the Burbank ranch house. Phil’s disdain for Rose grows; he accuses her of exploiting George’s wealth, making her feel unwelcome with his rough demeanor.
George organizes an evening gathering with his family and the governor to introduce Rose and showcase her piano skills. Despite her reluctance and admitting her lack of talent, Rose is pressured into playing, ultimately embarrassing herself further when Phil, still dirty, interrupts with remarks on her practice. Upon leaving, she succumbs to her stress by drinking — a vice she previously rejected.
By the time Peter arrives for summer break, Rose’s secret alcoholism deepens. Phil’s relentless teasing drives Peter to isolate himself, preferring to study animals and diseases in his room. One day, while wandering through a secluded area, Peter discovers Phil with a handkerchief belonging to Bronco Henry. Peter stumbles upon magazines tied to Bronco Henry that depict nude men, further complicating his impression of Phil, who chases him away as he bathes in a pond.
Unexpectedly, Phil begins to show kindness toward Peter, teaching him horse riding and crafting lariats. This connection grows until they work together on a fencing task, during which Peter’s morbid curiosity leads him to dissect a diseased cow, while Phil suffers a wound. Peter confides to Phil about discovering his father hanged.
Rose, disturbed by Peter’s bonding with Phil, spirals deeper into alcoholism. In a defiant act against Phil’s wasteful disregard for cattle hides, she gifts them to local Indigenous traders, which leads her to collapse from drinking. George cares for her, but with Peter offering the hide he cut from a carcass, both he and Phil bond over crafting a lasso in the barn. Phil reminisces about Bronco Henry’s life-saving intervention during freezing temperatures, leaving unanswered Peter’s question about their nudity. The intimacy of their moment culminates in them sharing a cigarette.
Yet, the next morning unfolds grimly when George finds Phil bedridden with an infected hand. The delirious Phil desperately seeks Peter to deliver the lasso before George rushes him to the hospital. We later see George selecting a coffin, and during Phil’s funeral, a doctor informs him that Phil likely died from anthrax, leaving George bewildered since Phil prided himself on avoiding sick cattle.
Having skipped the funeral, Peter searches through a Book of Common Prayer, reading Psalm 22:20: > “Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.” He then carefully places his finished lasso under his bed, watching as George embraces a now sober Rose, a sinister smile on his face. This suggests Peter had deliberately exposed Phil to the infected hide to protect his mother.
Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 14:24
Still wondering what the ending of The Power of the Dog (2021) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.
The ending of “The Power of the Dog” reveals a surprising and dark turn that underscores the film’s themes of manipulation, repression, and hidden cruelty. Throughout the story, Peter Gordon, the young son of Rose, quietly endures Phil Burbank’s bullying and inspection, but he also develops an unlikely bond with the brooding cowboy. This bond reaches a breaking point when Peter, recognizing Phil’s insecurities and internal conflicts, subtly manipulates him, culminating in a final act of revenge.
Peter kills a rabbit in a manner that unnerves Phil, highlighting his own cold-blooded nature and hinting at his capacity for violence. Later, Peter uses his knowledge about Phil’s past attachment to Bronco Henry and Phil’s obsession with masculinity to his advantage. When Phil becomes ill after accidentally inhaling anthrax, Peter deceives him by giving him the rawhide that had been contaminated, effectively causing Phil’s death. This calculated act of revenge is a chilling culmination of Peter’s growing understanding of Phil’s vulnerabilities and his own desire for justice against the bullying and emotional abuse he endured.
In the final moments, it becomes clear that Peter, who initially seemed innocent and submissive, was deeply aware of the power he wielded over Phil, and he used that power meticulously to resolve old wounds. The film closes with Peter quietly returning to his life, having shaped the outcome through subtle but deadly manipulation. The story’s overall message emphasizes that behind outward appearances of masculinity and control, there may lie profound darkness and capacity for cruelty—often hidden beneath a seemingly innocuous exterior. The ending leaves viewers contemplating the true nature of power, repression, and the secret strength that can emerge from the most unlikely places.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:57
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