Weekend Watchlist: Netflix’s The Power of The Dog is This Week’s Must See

We’re gradually nearing what’s usually the happiest time of the year, after all, that’s why it’s called the ‘Holiday Season.” To match that excitement, December is packed with lots of exciting new films and TV shows/series to keep your season groovy. In case you missed the December issue of our monthly editorial revealing the biggest new titles arriving for each new month, you can still check that out here.

That said, Netflix’s The Power of The Dog starring Benedict Cumberbatch is the first of many A-list movies to arrive for your viewing pleasure. The Power of The Dog is accompanied by other interesting but less popular features including the religious drama Benedetta, Amazon Prime’s Encounter, and another mouth watering Netflix drama from Paolo Sorrentino title Hand of God.

Here’s a rundown of the best films opening this week that Media Rants think you should watch, alongside information on why you should watch them and where to watch them. Enjoy!

The Power of The Dog

Where to watch: Netflix

Why you should watch it:

The Power of The Dog is one of Netflix’s big entry for the 2022 Academy Awards. The beautiful western stars English actor Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr Strange) in its lead role, and will touch on themes of love, manipulation, and deceit, betrayal from perspectives we’ve hardly ever seen before.

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Emile Sherman, Kirsten Dunst, Jane Campion, Roger Frappier, Iain Canning, Tanya Seghatchian, et al.

Encounter

Where to watch: Theatres (Limited)

Why you should watch it:

Variety’s Tomris Laffy describes director Michael Pearce’s Encounter as a deceptively simple yet philosophical stuff, channelled by first-rate genre film making. A decorated Marine sets out on a rescue mission to save his two young sons from an unknown disease. As their journey takes them in increasingly dangerous directions, the boys will need to leave their childhoods behind.

Cast: Michael Pearce, Janina Gavankar, Rory Cochrane, Riz Ahmed, Octavia Spencer, Lucian-River Chauhan, Joe Barton, et al.

The Hand of God

Where to watch: Netflix

Why you should watch it:

Remember the famous footballer, late Diego Maradona whose infamous ‘hand of god’ broke English hearts in the 1986 FIFA World Cup?

Academy award winning Italian filmmaker and writer Paolo Sorrentino brings his signature ingenuity on board in what is another heavy Oscar contender for 2022. The Hand of God follows the story of a boy, Fabietto Schisa, in the tumultuous Naples of the 1980s. The film is full of unexpected joys, such as the arrival of football legend Diego Maradona in Napoli, and an equally unexpected tragedy. Fate plays its part, joy and tragedy intertwine, and Fabietto’s future is set in motion. Sorrentino returns to his hometown to tell his most personal story, a tale of fate and family, sports and cinema, love, and loss.

Cast: Filippo Scoti, Luisa Ranieri, Toni Servillo, Teresa Sapoangelo, et al.

Benedetta

Where to watch: Theatres (Limited)

Why you should watch it:

Religion, love, and lust clash when Benedetta, A 17th-century nun becomes entangled in a forbidden lesbian affair with a novice. However, it’s her extraordinary gift of foresight that threatens to shake the church and her doctrine to the core.

Cast: Lambert Wilson, David Birke, Paul Verhoeven, Virginie Efira, Daphne Patakia, Judith C Brown, Charlotte Rampling, Olivier Rabourdin, et al.

TV Shows/Series

Money Heist Season 5: Volume 2

The final chapter of the revolutionary red overall and anonymous mask Netflix series begins on Friday, December 3. After four seasons, what final fate await Professor and his depleted brotherhood of ‘good criminals’. Find out when you watch Money Heist Season 5: Volume 2 this weekend.

That’s it for this week. We hope you enjoy.