PROVOKR PICK: LET HIM GO

BY: Amanda Jane Stern

In the upcoming neo-Western Let Him Go, Kevin Costner and Diane Lane star as retired sheriff George and wife, Margaret Blackledge. While grieving the loss of their only son, they leave Montana to save their young grandson, Jimmy, from the clutches of the Weboys, a dangerous off-the-grid family in North Dakota. Thomas Bezucha wrote, directed, and produced the thriller based on Larry Watson’s 2013 book of the same name. 

While it’s not known how closely the film adheres to the novel, the trailer looks like it has the same basic premise. In the book, the Blackledge’s son James dies after being thrown from a horse. His widow Lorna takes their young son and marries Donnie Weboy. While George thinks they should let it go, Margaret is determined to take her grandson back from Lorna and the Weboys. However, once they arrive in North Dakota, Lorna, afraid of what her husband would do to her and Jimmy if she were to leave, refuses to return to Montana with the Blackledges. Additionally, George and Margaret now also have to contend with the dangerous Weboy family, who do not want to give up the little boy.

The novel is set in 1951, and based on the trailer’s clothing, hair, makeup, and cars, it looks like the film’s timeline likely remains the same as the book’s. In addition to Costner and Lane, the movie stars Lesley Manville, Will Brittain, Jeffrey Donovan, Kayli Carter, and Booboo Stewart. Focus Features was to release the film on August 21, 2020. However, its release was delayed until November due to the coronavirus.

You can see Let Him Go in select theaters beginning on November 6, 2020.