‘Let Him Go,’ based on Larry Watson’s 2013 novel of the same name, depicts the story of a retired sheriff (Kevin Costner) and his wife (Diane Lane), who are still grieving the death of their son. They embark on a frantic expedition to retrieve their grandson back after learning that their previous daughter-in-law (Kayli Carter) has married into the deadly off-the-grid Weboy family. The Weboy matriarch is played by Lesley Manville, while her two sons are played by Will Brittain and Jeffrey Donovan.
“Let Him Go,” a Focus Features film, sparked a few sparks at the box office over the weekend, grossing an estimated $4.1 million. That was good enough for first place in these COVID times. With the second weekend of its horror flick “Come Play,” Focus came in second. “Come Play,” which was co-produced with Amblin Partners, grossed $1.7 million in the United States, bringing the total to $5.6 million.
The film was directed and written by Thomas Bezucha (‘Monte Carlo’). Along with Mitchell Kaplan and Paula Mazur of The Mazur Kaplan Company, he also produced the film. ‘Let Him Go’ is set in the United States in the 1960s, particularly in Montana and the Dakotas. Here’s everything we know about where it was filmed!
Where is Let Him Go filmed?
The film is a neo-Western drama that reflects the grandeur of Americana, and it stars Kevin Costner, whose renowned career has largely consisted of such rural pictures. The film was shot in Alberta by Bezucha and his cameraman Guy Godfree. It’s Costner’s first project shot in the province since 2003’s Western feature “Open Range.” He and Lane previously collaborated on the DCEU blockbuster film “Man of Steel” in 2013.
The film’s principal photography began in April 2019 and ended a month later. Several sequences were shot in Calgary, Alberta, Canada’s largest city. It has previously housed productions of films such as ‘Fargo,’ ‘Interstellar,’ and ‘Jumanji: The Next Level.’
‘Let Him Go’ also features the undulating grasslands of Drumheller, Alberta.
The little town of Fort Macleod, located in Alberta’s southwest, was also used as a filming site. A casting call for extras for the production was issued in March 2019.
The resulting turnout even shocked Kristi Edwards, the town’s deputy mayor, who commented, “It’s a bit overwhelming how many people showed up, but it just goes to show how devoted we are in our area to filming, and we want to highlight (that) we got — as you can see, there are lots of possibilities.”
Didsbury, in central Alberta, was home to the ‘Let Him Go’ production crew. It was also the primary site for the filming of the Canadian-American supernatural series ‘Wynonna Earp.’
Aside from ‘Let Him Go’ and ‘Interstellar,’ the city of Lethbridge has served as a filming set for ‘Hold the Dark,’ ‘RV,’ and ‘Finders Keepers,’ among other productions.
Movie plot
The film Let Him Go follows a retired sheriff and his wife who live at the Montana Ranch and are struggling with the loss of their son. George Blackledge, a retired sheriff, and his wife Margaret decided to leave their Montana ranch one day to save their 4-to-5-year-old grandson. Margaret notices that her grandson and former daughter-in-law are being mistreated in her new home. Her former daughter-in-law and grandson were living off the grid in the Dakotas, held captive by a deadly family led by matriarch Blanche Weboy.
When the Blackledges learn that the Weboy family has no intention of letting George and Margaret’s grandson go without a struggle, George and Margaret step in to defend their family. Blanche Weboy is played by Lesley Manville, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Phantom Thread. Kevin Costner and Diane Lane both have Academy Award nominations.
Is Let Him Go Based on a True Story?
No, the movie “Let Him Go” is not based on a genuine story. The film is a cinematic adaptation of Larry Watson’s 2013 novel of the same name. The screenplay was written by Bezucha himself. Mitchell Kaplan and Paula Mazur of The Mazur Kaplan Company are his co-producers. The film’s cinematographer was Guy Godfree, while the score was composed by Michael Giacchino. The film has gotten mainly positive reviews since its premiere in 2020, with critics appreciating the veteran cast’s performances in particular.
Watson’s writings are mostly set in the northern states of the United States as a novelist. He was born and raised in North Dakota before graduating from the University of Utah with a doctorate in creative writing. For two and a half decades, he taught writing and literature at the University of Wisconsin. He joined Marquette University as a visiting lecturer in 2003. His debut work, Montana 1948, is set in Big Sky County in the 1940s, as the title suggests.
Watson’s tenth novel is titled “Let Him Go.” While adapting the book, Bezucha made a few alterations. The novel begins in 1951, whereas the film takes place in the 1960s. He also alternated between the Blackledges and the Weboys as his home states. Watson gave the mourning parents the names of North Dakota residents and the Weboy clan members the names of Montana residents.
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