I didn’t know what to expect going into Jane Campion’s latest film, but I was certainly not disappointed. The one thing about this film is that it may leave you uninterested at some points but completely astonished at others. Aside from all this, Benedict Cumberbatch delivers one of his best performances to date. Kirsten Dunst also puts on a gripping display of dramatic versatility, embodying the woes of a widowed inn-keeper who finds herself in the middle of subtle mind games, secrets, and sorrows.
To the passive viewer, this film may appear to center more on a discontent rancher struggling to overcome the sway of his toxic masculinity. But upon closer inspection, what you realize is that Campion has meticulously orchestrated a tale about a subtly sadistic young man, Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who will stop at nothing to ensure his mother’s happiness. If you want to watch a slower yet beautifully disturbing western/drama, then this Jane Campion film is right up your alley!