Lean on Pete (2018)

Lean on Pete is the kind of American road movie that doesn’t romanticize hardship—it looks it in the eye, then finds a bruised, stubborn tenderness inside it. Andrew Haigh directs with a quiet, compassionate restraint that lets moments breathe, and Charlie Plummer gives a startlingly raw performance as a kid trying to stay decent in a world that keeps asking him not to. The bond between boy and horse isn’t played for easy sentiment; it’s a lifeline, and the film’s dusty, contemporary frontier vibe makes every mile feel earned. It’s not for viewers wanting comfort or escapism—this one can be tough and occasionally harrowing—but if you’re open to a humane, clear-eyed drama that lingers like a memory, it’s absolutely worth the ride.

Lean on Pete is clearly aiming for a modern American odyssey about a kid and a horse, using their bond to explore grief, poverty, and survival with a very human, unvarnished touch. Andrew Haigh delivers strong, grounded performances—Charlie Plummer in particular—but the film’s episodic road structure can feel like misery-by-installments, piling on setback after setback until the emotional weight starts to blur into exhaustion. It’s also deliberately slow and bleak, so if you’re expecting an uplifting animal adventure or a cathartic, crowd-pleasing arc, this will likely feel punishing rather than profound. If you can handle heavy themes and want a raw, compassionate coming-of-age drama that doesn’t pull punches, it has real power—just know it’s not here to comfort you.