Liam Neeson delivers another intense performance in the action-packed thriller Cold Pursuit, where vengeance takes center stage. His character, Nels Coxman, is a well-respected member of his small Colorado community, managing a snowplowing business in Kehoe.
However, when his son—portrayed by Neeson’s real-life son, Micheál Richardson—dies under suspicious circumstances, Nels embarks on a relentless quest for retribution.
His pursuit of justice, however, threatens to tear his family apart. Directed by Hans Petter Moland (Out Stealing Horses), the movie also features Laura Dern (Big Little Lies), playing the role of Nels’ wife, Grace.
A father’s grief turns into a blood-soaked path of retribution (Photo: Cold Pursuit/Summit Entertainment, Studio Canal, MAS Production)What Happens in Cold Pursuit?
A father’s relentless pursuit of revenge drives the story forward as Nels Coxman (Neeson) goes after a Denver-based drug cartel that he suspects is responsible for the murder of his son, Kyle (Richardson). Living in Kehoe with his wife, Grace (Dern), Nels enjoys a quiet life as a snowplow driver—until tragedy strikes.
While receiving an award for his work, his world shatters when he learns that Kyle has been abducted and killed by a local gang. Determined to avenge his son, he methodically eliminates cartel members, working his way up the chain to drug kingpin Trevor “Viking” Calcote (Tom Bateman).
The Escalation of a Turf War
Nels’ violent revenge spree inadvertently triggers a war between two criminal factions. As Viking investigates the disappearances within his organization, he wrongly assumes that a rival Ute cartel, led by White Bull (Tom Jackson), is behind the attacks. Seeking to assert dominance, Viking retaliates by murdering White Bull’s son, Baby Hawk (Kyle Nobess), sending a clear but misguided message.
However, instead of backing down, White Bull vows to strike back, declaring, “A son for a son.” As the escalating feud between the gangs reaches a boiling point, Nels seizes an opportunity to kidnap Viking’s son, Ryan (Nicholas Holmes), in an attempt to draw the crime lord into a confrontation. But Viking, already aware of Nels’ involvement, prepares to strike first in a calculated ambush.
Who are the Main Players in Cold Pursuit?
At the center of the story is Nels, driven by an unrelenting desire to dismantle Viking’s cartel. In his quest, he briefly seeks the advice of his brother, Brock (William Forsythe), a former enforcer known as Wingman. Despite this, Nels carries out his mission alone.
Viking and his crew operate with ruthless efficiency, determined to uncover who is behind the deaths of their men and the disruption of their drug trade.
However, Viking’s brutality extends beyond his enemies—he turns against his men when he kills Dexter (Benjamin Hollingsworth) and presents his severed head to White Bull in an attempt to end the gang war.
This act proves costly, as Viking’s loyal enforcer, Mustang (Domenick Lombardozzi), betrays him upon learning that Dexter was his lover.
On the other side of the conflict is White Bull and his Ute gang. Before Baby Hawk’s murder, the two rival groups had largely avoided direct conflict. But with his son gone, White Bull sets his sights on dismantling Viking’s organization.
Meanwhile, two law enforcement officers, Kim Dash (Emmy Rossum) and John Gipsky (John Doman), follow the chaos from a distance.
Dash gathers intel from a Denver vice detective about the warring factions, while Gipsky, through cryptic hints, suggests he might already have a deeper understanding of Viking’s activities.
Nels Coxman transforms from an ordinary man to a relentless force (Photo: Cold Pursuit/Summit Entertainment, Studio Canal, MAS Production)How Does Cold Pursuit End?
A violent showdown brings the conflict to a brutal conclusion, delivering a grim resolution. Viking learns of Nels’ identity when a janitor at Ryan’s prep school witnesses Nels taking the boy. Although Viking promises the janitor payment for his cooperation, he betrays him and takes his life instead.
Now aware that Viking’s forces are closing in, Nels takes Ryan to his snowplow business, instructing him to hide while he waits for the inevitable confrontation. Despite his preparations, his attempt to eliminate Viking falls short.
A deadly shootout erupts as Viking’s ambush is unexpectedly disrupted by White Bull’s arrival. Chaos ensues, leaving nearly every gang member dead except for their leaders. With his men gone, Viking tries to flee, but Nels prevents his escape.
Trapped and out of options, Viking meets his end when White Bull shoots him in the chest. Before dying, he manages to pass along a message for his ex-wife through Officer Gipsky.
As the dust settles, Nels and White Bull leave the scene together in the snowplow. With a gun aimed at Nels’ head, White Bull questions his next move, to which Nels simply responds, “My job.” With Viking eliminated, both men acknowledge their shared grief over their lost sons.
However, just as the film seems to suggest closure, White Bull’s last surviving gang member, Avalanche, suffers a fatal accident while paragliding—his lifeless body becoming entangled in Nels’ snowplow. This final moment raises an unsettling question: has the cycle of violence truly ended, or is another battle on the horizon?
