It’s so remote and it’s 360 degrees empty with an amazing hill range behind it that felt very atmospheric,” says Campion. “On the second day of sniffing around the South Island, which I know well, I was taken to a property near the Hawkdun Ranges area in Central Otago. The film was shot on location in the South Island of New Zealand - its sparsely populated, grassy plains and rocky mountains were a remarkable match for Montana.Ĭampion had initially thought she would make the film in Montana, or somewhere similar in the US or Canada, however Campion was encouraged to consider New Zealand, her home country, which has an incredibly experienced crew as well as a diversity of landscapes. I also want to give a shout out to Jacinda and her government for handling the COVID pandemic so swiftly and well because it enabled us to get back up after the lockdown and complete our film with safety and confidence unknown in the rest of the world.” Jane Campion (Writer, Director, Producer)

Working with the enthusiasm and love of this crew and cast and Thomas Savage’s masterful novel was a lifetime thrill and I’m very grateful to the New Zealand Film Commission and the country for their support.

“It was an enormous pleasure to be working in my homeland with so many extraordinary Kiwi colleagues and particularly heart warming to hear my lead actors comment that they had never seen sets so well made or dressed with such incredible detail. The production had a predominantly New Zealand crew including experienced award-winning Kiwis such as Co-producer Chloe Smith ( The Piano, Ash vs Evil Dead, Black Christmas), Production Designer Grant Major ( An Angel at my Table, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), Costume Designer Kirsty Cameron ( Slow West, Whale Rider) and Hair and Makeup Designer Noriko Watanabe ( The Piano, Top of the Lake: China Girl). The film was shot on location across New Zealand - including the city of Dunedin, Ida Valley, Oamaru and Queenstown – with its production base in Auckland. The film was adapted by Campion from the 1967 novel by Thomas Savage and stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Frances Conroy, Keith Carradine, Peter Carroll, Adam Beach alongside rising New Zealand star Thomasin McKenzie. KIRSTY GRIFFIN/NETFLIX © 2021Īn official New Zealand/Australian co-production, The Power of the Dog was written, directed and produced by Academy Award winning New Zealander Jane Campion. THE POWER OF THE DOG: BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH as PHIL BURBANK in THE POWER OF THE DOG.

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