The Rescue trailer review: A father and his dog take on kidnappers

Paramount Pictures has released the official trailer for The Rescue, a high-stakes Western thriller that follows a father and his loyal dog as they race to save his kidnapped daughter.

Released on Friday, September 25, 2026, the teaser introduces Brandon Sklenar as Jamie Lee Betts, a former rodeo cowboy whose daughter is kidnapped for a $25 million ransom.

The abductors target the family partly because of the fame and wealth of the girl’s mother, a country music figure and Betts’ ex-wife. With authorities advising him to wait, Betts refuses to sit back and instead sets out to find his daughter.

His unlikely partner is the family dog, which was present during the abduction and picks up the girl’s scent, leading Betts into the mountains.

Brandon Sklenar takes the lead

Sklenar, known for his role in 1923 and other recent projects, appears well suited to the rugged character.

The trailer presents Betts as a determined father who knows the mountains better than most and is prepared to put himself in danger to bring his daughter home.

His performance carries both the physical and emotional demands of the role, with scenes showing him riding through rough terrain, confronting the kidnappers and pushing deeper into the wilderness.

The character has shades of the determined father seen in classic revenge thrillers, but the Western setting gives Sklenar a different space to work in.

One of the trailer’s most interesting elements is the role played by Betts’ dog.

Rather than being included simply as a sidekick, the animal becomes an important part of the rescue mission after using its tracking ability to follow the kidnapped girl’s scent.

A familiar story with a Western edge

At its core, The Rescue uses a familiar premise — a child is kidnapped, a ransom is demanded and a desperate parent decides to go after the criminals.

However, the trailer places that story against rugged mountain landscapes, horseback pursuits and wilderness survival.

Director Potsy Ponciroli, whose previous work includes Old Henry, brings Western experience to the project, while writer John Fusco has credits including Young Guns and The Highwaymen.

The supporting cast includes Josh Lucas, Tim Blake Nelson and Josh Duhamel, suggesting that Sklenar will be surrounded by an experienced ensemble as the story develops.

The trailer also keeps the action relatively grounded, relying on practical-looking sequences and the natural environment rather than excessive CGI spectacle.