In the modern age of cinema, we often expect movies to be packed to the brim with action sequences and maintain a sense of obvious intensity. After all, apps like Tik Tok and the evolution of social media in general, have turned instant gratification into the new norm for entertainment. However, especially in film, there is still enjoyment to be found in subtlety. There is a certain charm in elusive suspense, and a certain excitement to the more ambiguous parts of a film that leave room for analysis and interpretation. One of Netflix’s final 2021 film releases, The Power of the Dog, is a movie that capitalizes beautifully off of that notion. With stars like Kirsten Dunst and her husband Jesse Plemmons, this western psychological thriller doesn’t hand you your emotions and reactions on a platter, but rather trusts its viewers to get hooked by the quiet intrigue in the beginning-- and its main message? Never underestimate the power of not wanting to be alone.

Oh, yeah, and Benedict Cumberbatch plays a rugged cowboy. Who wouldn’t love that?

In all seriousness though, Cumberbatch’s performance in this movie is surprisingly believable and gripping. The British actor, now 45, is mostly known for playing sophisticated, yet arrogant and cocky characters like Sherlock Holmes, Hamlet, and Marvel’s Dr. Strange. This role was definitely more burly and grizzly than his usual roles but, nonetheless, the role earned him a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination. (It is an award that is well-earned after Cumberbatch described the process behind his method acting which included distancing himself from the cast, rudely calling his co-star Jesse Plemmons ‘Big boy’ to stay in character, and not showering for up to six days. That’s what the show business calls dedication, and what normal people call insanity). I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure I would be able to see his character as anything other than Benedict Cumberbatch, but twenty minutes into the film proved me very wrong. His character will draw you in, fascinate you, anger you, impress you… and absolutely terrify you.

Of course, the acting wouldn’t be worth so much praise without an intriguing plot to support it. The Power of the Dog starts off like a typical western, with a group of cowboys entering a restaurant owned by a woman named Rose Gordon (Kirsten Dunst) and her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee). The group of cowboys is led by the two owners of the ranch they work on, brothers Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George Burbank (Jesse Plemmons) who are still mourning the loss of their recently deceased mentor, Bronco Henry. What starts off as a pretty standard western quickly evolves into a subtle thriller when Phil, displeased that George has married Rose and let her and her son move into the ranch with them, begins a series of tricks designed to psychologically torture Rose. This all provides for a very eerie game of cat and mouse between the two of them until, well... the unexpected happens. Unexpected, in this case, will feel like something that comes completely out of left field upon your first watch. It’s certainly how I felt when I realized the ending. However, after a second or third watch, the details and small hints at what goes down will slowly unravel themselves and then suddenly, the ending makes complete sense.

I’d argue that no, this is a film that definitely will not be everyone’s cup of tea. Its subtlety is its greatest strength, sure, but it also seriously limits its audience to the people who have the patience and willingness to dissect every scene they watch. Not everyone wants to have to really pay attention to every second of what they’re watching—especially not when you can get a quick laugh in 15 seconds elsewhere– or to have to really think about the ending. It is also worth mentioning that there are some mildly gory scenes in dealing with cattle and various animals that are unpleasant and gross. Animal lovers: watch at your own risk. All in all though, if you are someone who enjoys watching movies not just for the thrill but because you enjoy reflecting on the message and the methods of storytelling, then I highly recommend watching The Power of the Dog, available on Netflix today.