Let Him Go (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film takes place across two main locations in the American Midwest: the vast, serene landscapes of Montana where the Blackledge family lives on their ranch, and Gladstone, North Dakota, a tense hub of family conflict and hidden dangers.

• montana
• north dakota
• setting
• ranch
• gladstone

The movie is set in the early 1960s, specifically between 1961-1963. This post-war period captures a America grappling with changing societal norms and family dynamics while navigating rural life.

• 1960s
• time period
• 1961
• 1963
• era

The film explores three central themes: Loss, as characters cope with the death of loved ones and the resulting emptiness; Conflict, which manifests in familial tensions and violent confrontations between the Blackledge and Weboy families; and Protection, which drives the grandparents' desperate fight to safeguard their family from danger.

• themes
• loss
• conflict
• protection
• family

George Blackledge, played by Kevin Costner, is a retired sheriff characterized by quiet strength and rugged determination. He is devastated by the loss of his son and remains fiercely protective of his remaining family, taking on the dangerous mission to rescue his granddaughter.

• george blackledge
• kevin costner
• sheriff
• protector

Margaret Blackledge, played by Diane Lane, is a fierce and determined mother who evolves from a grieving widow into a woman driven by love and desperation. She takes control of her family's destiny and stops at nothing to find and protect her loved ones.

• margaret blackledge
• diane lane
• mother
• protector

The Weboy family is the antagonistic clan living in Gladstone, North Dakota. Led by matriarch Blanche Weboy, the family is characterized by abuse, manipulation, and violence. Bill Weboy serves as a key figure whose actions escalate the conflict between the two families.

• weboy family
• blanche weboy
• bill weboy
• antagonist

The film explores how parental and grandparent instincts can drive people to confront overwhelming danger. George and Margaret's journey demonstrates the extreme lengths families will go to protect their loved ones, even when facing seemingly insurmountable threats.

• family protection
• instinct
• grandparents
• child safety

The movie depicts a rural American world of vast open landscapes and tight-knit communities, but also one marked by family feuds and hidden dangers. The contrast between the peaceful Montana ranch and the hostile town of Gladstone illustrates the film's exploration of darkness lurking beneath seemingly serene surfaces.

• rural america
• setting
• landscape
• dakota
• wilderness

The two families are connected through marriage, Lorna Blackledge married into the Weboy family, but their relationship is defined by antagonism and conflict. The Blackledges represent lawfulness and love, while the Weboys embody violence and control, creating a volatile clash of values.

• family conflict
• blackledge
• weboy
• feud
• tension

Loss serves as the emotional core of the film. The Blackledges are driven by the grief of losing their son, which fuels their desperate mission to save their granddaughter from a similar tragic fate. This profound grief shapes every decision they make throughout the story.

• grief
• death
• son
• loss
• emotional