The Power of the Dog

Like many other reviewers, I only read this book because I think the movie looks interesting. I was not expecting it to be so compelling. From early on, there was a heavy sense of irony. I felt dread and sympathy for many of the characters. There is a deep psychological, pathological development that takes the place of anything “exciting.” The twist at the end, and I mean the end, was a delightful surprise. I had to sit for a second thinking, “Did that just happen?” Anyway, I loved it, and I hope the movie doesn't disappoint . . .

A dark and brooding story about two brothers, Phil and George, who own a ranch in Montana in the 1920s, and what happens when George chooses to disrupt their well-established routines and get married. This is such a well-written character study, playing with the motif of ‘opposites attract' throughout, and examining how Phil's repression of his sexuality in the ultramasc world of the cowboy has affected him so detrimentally. The tension builds and builds with each chapter, and the abrupt and visceral ending is perfectly crafted.