MOVIE NEWS – Kevin Costner has been a defining figure of the Western genre for decades, but it was only with 2018’s Yellowstone that he became synonymous with neo-westerns as well. Yet one of his most harrowing and uncompromising entries in the genre predates that success – and it’s finally heading to streaming.
Written, directed, and co-produced by Thomas Bezucha, 2020’s Let Him Go adapts Larry Watson’s 2013 novel of the same name. The film pairs Kevin Costner with Academy Award nominee Diane Lane as an aging couple drawn into grave danger after their beloved grandson is taken from them. With Lesley Manville, Kayli Carter, Will Brittain, and Jeffrey Donovan in supporting roles, the story unfolds as a slow-burning thriller that balances devastating emotional weight with moments of shocking violence. Let Him Go is both intimate and relentless, taking its time before delivering a crushing payoff. The film arrives on Peacock on January 1, 2026, and the official synopsis can be found below.
Following the loss of their son, a retired sheriff and his wife leave their Montana ranch to rescue their young grandson from the clutches of a dangerous family living off the grid in the Dakotas.
Let Him Go Is a Slow-Burning Revenge Thriller With a Brutal Climax
Upon release, Let Him Go resonated strongly with both critics and audiences. The neo-western thriller currently holds an 85% critics’ score and a 76% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with praise directed at the performances and some criticism aimed at the film’s uneven blend of adult drama and revenge thriller elements. MovieWeb’s Julian Roman found the deliberate pacing challenging at times but highlighted the film’s “brutal climax” and its ever-present simmering tension.
At its core, the film centers on rival grandmothers battling for custody of their grandson, slowly escalating into a violent reckoning. Let Him Go carefully builds dread before erupting into graphic violence, allowing its characters room to breathe and develop before pushing them past the point of no return. Though the pacing occasionally drags, the ferocity of the finale leaves a lasting impression, amplified by the bleak, desolate landscapes of its period setting.
Collider cautioned audiences not to expect a bombastic action spectacle, instead describing the film as a “sensitive vigilante tale.” Chicago Sun-Times praised the pairing of Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as “movie heaven,” while RogerEbert.com concluded: “Understated in its quiet rhythms and vast beauty, Let Him Go is fortified with strong performances and ultimately punctuated by shocking moments of violence.”
Following Kevin Costner’s abrupt exit from Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan’s neo-western universe continues to expand with multiple spin-offs in development. Costner, meanwhile, remains committed to bringing traditional Western epics to the screen, though not without setbacks. His ambitious Horizon franchise may have ended far earlier than intended, with Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 now indefinitely delayed and the actor-director facing several lawsuits tied to alleged on-set misconduct.
Source: MovieWeb
