The Kid is a dark movie, packed full of abuse, murder, crime and robbery.

Set in 1879, it revolves around Rio (Jake Schur) and Sara (Leila George), a brother and sister running away from their abusive uncle (Chris Pratt), only to encounter the legendary outlaw Billy The Kid (Dane DeHaan) and lawman Pat Garrett (Ethan Hawke), who they soon become entangled with. 

“I have always loved westerns,” director Vincent D’Onofrio tells Metro. “I also started to think about a coming of age story. So I combined the two. I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to put a kid in between Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid?’ I really wanted to tell an American saga. 

Vincent D’Onofrio talk us through The Kid

D’Onofrio doesn’t shy away from the film’s more immoral moments, though. In fact The Kid has an extra edge and emotion to it because of the incredible cast that he has assembled, each of whom he has a deep and personal relationship with. 

“My life these days is about loyalty and friendship. I am trying to keep good karma in life. These guys are that to me. Ethan Hawke is one of my best friends, I taught Ben Dickey acting, Dane DeHaan is such a genuine person.”

“I have a particular way that I direct. It requires trust and a lot of no nonsense. The idea of being a genuine person and not full of s*** helps for good work. I really do believe that when people are upset and smiling in this film it is all genuine. There’s no nonsense going on.”

Obviously, the one person D’Onofrio was closet to on set was Leila George, his daughter, and he calls filming with her was an “incredible thing for a dad to experience.” 

The Kid hits theaters tomorrow.