Is Benedict Cumberbatch's 'The Power of the Dog' on Netflix Based on a Book?

Jane Campion's new movie The Power of the Dog is currently streaming on Netflix, and the intriguing western tale is piquing viewers' interest.

Benedict Cumberbatch leads the cast as the aggressive, volatile Phil Burbank, and he stars alongside Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee. The movie is set during the last days of the Old West, on a ranch in 1920s Montana,

The Power of the Dog has been generating awards buzz with Cumberbatch and Smit-McPhee in particular being singled out for praise for their performances.

Viewers may find the story familiar as it's based on a piece of classic American literature, and was adapted to the big screen by Oscar winner Campion.

Is The Power of the Dog Based on a Book?

Yes. Campion's new movie is an adaptation of a little-known novel by Thomas Savage.

He released The Power of the Dog in book form in 1967, but sales were reportedly underwhelming considering the favorable reviews it received. It was re-released in 2001 with an afterword by Brokeback Mountain writer Annie Proulx.

Savage went on to write a number of successful books, including A Strange God, Her Side of It and The Corner of Rife and Pacific.

He was married to fellow writer Elizabeth Fitzgerald and died at the age of 88 in 2003.

Jane Campion's Adaptation of The Power of the Dog

Campion wrote and directed The Power of the Dog, her first feature film in 12 years. In that time she wrote and directed the TV series Top of the Lake, but aside from that her most recent work is 2009's Bright Star.

In the new movie's production notes, Campion admits Savage's story haunted her as she looked for the film she wanted to make next.

"It intrigued me for many reasons. I couldn't guess what was going to happen, it was incredibly detailed, and I felt that the person writing the story had lived this experience," Campion said. "It's not just a cowboy story from 1925 of ranch life, this is a lived experience and I think because of that, I felt a real trust for the story. I loved how deeply it explores masculinity and that it's also about a hidden love."

Shooting for the movie began in January 2020. Production was interrupted because of the global pandemic, but work later resumed in July last year.

One of the young stars of the movie, Smit-McPhee, plays Peter Gordon, a young effeminate man who doesn't suit Cumberbatch's Phil Burbank's definition for what it means to be a man. Smit-McPhee told Newsweek that the joint creative efforts of Savage and Campion helped him discover all the quirks of his character.

He said: "I think it was an absolute masterpiece on the page. And that goes for the book and the script, how the script translated. And it was just a matter of taking on that challenge and trying to interpret what was there. I think that's enough.

"I don't think you need to sugarcoat something that's unsweetened. It was all there and it was just a matter of working with Jane and being open to being challenged and feeling uncomfortable in terms of character development."

The Power of the Dog is available to watch on Netflix now.