12/08/2025
🎬 Let Him Go (2020) is a brooding neo-Western thriller that explores grief, justice, and the lengths a family will go to protect one of their own—set against the stark, unforgiving landscapes of 1960s Montana and North Dakota.
The story follows George Blackledge (Kevin Costner), a retired sheriff, and his wife Margaret (Diane Lane), who are devastated by the sudden death of their son. When their widowed daughter-in-law Lorna (Kayli Carter) remarries into the dangerous and controlling Weboy family, George and Margaret set out to rescue their young grandson from what they suspect is an abusive household. Their journey leads them to Blanche Weboy (Lesley Manville), the chilling matriarch of the clan, whose grip on her family is as violent as it is absolute. As tensions escalate, the couple must confront the brutal reality of what it means to fight for family—and what it might cost.
Directed and written by Thomas Bezucha, and based on the novel by Larry Watson, the film features stark cinematography by Guy Godfree and a haunting score by Michael Giacchino, enhancing the film’s slow-burn tension and emotional weight. With its deliberate pacing and character-driven storytelling, Let Him Go evokes the quiet menace of classic Westerns while delivering a deeply personal tale of loss and resolve.
Released theatrically in the U.S. on November 6, 2020 by Focus Features, the film received positive reviews and grossed over $11.6 million worldwide. Critics praised the performances—especially Diane Lane’s fierce maternal determination and Lesley Manville’s unnerving villainy—though some noted its slow pacing.
Let Him Go stands out as a somber and gripping meditation on family, vengeance, and the moral ambiguity of justice. Often compared to No Country for Old Men and Hell or High Water, it asks: how far would you go to save someone you love, and what happens when the law isn’t enough?
