There's something immediately disarming about sitting down with Henry Thomas and Adrianne Palicki. Maybe it's the shared Texas roots. Maybe it's the fact that both performers have built careers by bringing an uncommon level of honesty to their work. Whatever the reason, what started as a conversation about Due West quickly became a discussion about place, character, and the kind of storytelling that sticks with you.
Due West follows a woman navigating an increasingly desperate situation as she journeys across the vast stretches of West Texas seeking medical care. The independent drama, directed by Evan Miller, uses its location not simply as a backdrop but as a living, breathing part of the story. For Thomas, the setting carried a personal resonance.
As a Texas native from a small town himself, he was drawn to the film's portrait of community and the way "everybody knows your business" and how your past can seem impossible to escape. That small-town reality helped ground his character, Pastor Mike, a man forced to confront what Thomas described as a difficult moral dilemma that challenged both his beliefs and ethics. It was the kind of internal conflict that, in his words, "gives you a lot to do" as an actor.
Palicki, who also served as a producer on the film, was equally passionate about preserving the story's West Texas identity. During development, there were conversations about potentially filming elsewhere, but she was adamant that the film belonged in West Texas.
"No place looks like West Texas," she explained, noting that the landscape was essential to understanding her character's emotional isolation. When audiences see her walking alone down an empty highway, the loneliness becomes tangible. The vastness of the region reinforces the feeling that she is completely on her own, both physically and emotionally.
That commitment to authenticity extended to the production itself. Shooting in Marfa during the winter created a uniquely intimate environment for the cast and crew. Palicki described the experience as deeply bonding, while also acknowledging that the isolation mirrored the themes of the film itself. Thomas agreed, pointing to the unique light and geography of West Texas, a place that feels distinct from anywhere else in the state.
One of the most impressive aspects of Due West is the chemistry between Thomas and Palicki. Watching the film, you'd be forgiven for assuming the two had worked together several times before. In reality, this was their first project together.
Thomas credited the screenplay to Evan Miller and Hardy Janson, saying the dialogue had already been finely tuned before he arrived on set. Combined with the film's intimate atmosphere and small crew, it quickly felt as though these characters had known each other for years. Palicki echoed that sentiment, laughing about how many mutual friends they shared before finally meeting. Their instant rapport translated directly to the screen.
What truly elevates Due West, however, is what remains unsaid. Both performers excel at conveying emotion through silence, allowing entire conversations to unfold through expression and presence rather than dialogue.
Thomas compared the process to jazz, explaining that great performances often happen "in between the notes." He spoke about finding the rhythm of a film and discovering those moments organically, describing it as the "lightning in the bottle" actors are always chasing. Palicki added that the key is finding a genuine connection between yourself and the character so that the emotions feel real in the moment rather than performed.
Listening to the two discuss their craft, it becomes clear why both have enjoyed such enduring careers. Thomas, whose filmography stretches from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial to Mike Flanagan's Doctor Sleep, speaks about acting with genuine reverence. You can tell he truly appreciates the craft and the collaborative magic that happens when talented artists come together. During our conversation, he described the creative process like a band discovering something new together, with actors constantly responding to ideas that weren't originally on the page.
As someone who still remembers yelling at the screen when Thomas appeared as Lloyd the bartender in Doctor Sleep, it was a reminder of the remarkable range he's demonstrated throughout his career. Whether it's horror, drama, science fiction, or intimate independent films like Due West, he consistently finds the humanity inside every role.
Palicki brings that same commitment to her work. With standout performances in Friday Night Lights, John Wick, and numerous film and television projects, she has built a career around strong, memorable characters. Interestingly, she revealed that her approach to Due West was shaped heavily by Tyra Collette, her beloved Friday Night Lights character.
Palicki admitted that Tyra remains her favorite role and that she viewed the protagonist of Due West almost as an alternate version of that character. She imagined what might have happened if Tyra had never gone to college and instead stayed behind in Texas, trying to navigate adulthood while facing increasingly difficult circumstances. Having spent two decades connected to that character, it gave Palicki an emotional starting point that helped her access the role.
For both actors, the appeal of Due West ultimately came down to its humanity. Thomas was attracted to a story that explored complex issues without trying to bludgeon audiences with a predetermined answer. As he put it, the film simply presents a human story and asks viewers what they think. Palicki felt a deep sense of responsibility to the material, believing in both the subject matter and the thoughtful way the story approached it.
Perhaps that's why the film has connected so strongly with audiences during its festival run. Palicki shared that people from different perspectives have approached her after screenings saying, "I never thought of it like that." For her, that reaction represents the entire purpose of the film. Thomas also found audiences responding to Pastor Mike's perspective and the personal journey he experiences throughout the story.
By the end of our conversation, after swapping stories about Texas and debating the best places to end up stranded in the Lone Star State, one thing was abundantly clear: Due West succeeds because it is anchored by two performers who understand that great storytelling starts with empathy.
And in a film built around difficult choices, complicated emotions, and miles of open Texas road, Henry Thomas and Adrianne Palicki make every step of the journey worth taking.
Due West is on VOD 7/28 from Cineverse, and playing in theaters at the Violet Crown in Austin, TX from 7/23-7/31 and the Laemelle in Glendale, CA from 7/24-7/31. You can purchase tickets for Austin HERE and for Glendale HERE.
Jessie Hobson