Name: Let Him Go
Genre: Thriller, Crime, Western
Released: 2020-11-05T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Kayli Carter, Lesley Manville, Will Brittain

The image of Kevin Costner‘s bloodied hand, fingers severed by a hatchet, is seared into my mind long after the credits of Let Him Go roll. It’s a brutal moment, one that director Thomas Bezucha leans into to shock the audience out of the film’s otherwise measured, melancholic pacing. But does it work? Only partially.

Bezucha’s adaptation of Larry Watson’s novel is a neo-Western thriller with a heavy heart, anchored by Diane Lane and Costner as Margaret and George Blackledge, grieving grandparents on a mission to rescue their grandson from the clutches of the dangerous Weboy family. The film’s strength lies in its performances—Lane and Costner are compelling as the determined, heartbroken duo, while Lesley Manville steals every scene she’s in as Blanche Weboy, the matriarch with a penchant for violence and manipulation.

The film’s first half is its strongest, grounded in the quiet desperation of Margaret and George’s journey. The Blackledges’ grief is palpable, and their determination to save Jimmy from Lorna’s abusive new family is relatable. Bezucha’s direction is steady, allowing the tension to build naturally. The landscape of Montana and North Dakota serves as a stark backdrop, emphasizing the isolation and lawlessness of the era.

But then comes the motel room scene—a jarring shift in tone that feels out of place. The sudden explosion of violence disrupts the film’s slow-burn momentum, and while Costner’s hand-chopping is undoubtedly memorable, it also feels like a cheap thrill, undermining the subtler character work that came before.

The film also stumbles in its pacing. While the first act is deliberate and engaging, the second half struggles to maintain momentum. The Weboy family, particularly Blanche and her sons, are compelling antagonists, but their actions sometimes feel inconsistent, swinging between menace and absurdity. Jeffrey Donovan and Will Brittain do what they can with their roles as Bill and Donnie Weboy, but their characters lack depth, reducing them to caricatures of rural criminality.

The film’s exploration of family, grief, and the cycle of abuse is thoughtful, but it’s not always handled deftly. Themes of justice and vengeance are woven into the narrative, but they’re often overshadowed by the film’s more sensational moments. The ending, while emotionally resonant, feels rushed, leaving some loose ends untied.

Let Him Go is a flawed but fascinating film, elevated by its performances and grounded in a sincere exploration of loss and redemption.

Tags: thrillers, Kevin Costner, Thomas Bezucha, Diane Lane, Kayli Carter, Let Him Go