Dillon Freasier played the role of young H.W. Plainview in the 2007 film There Will Be Blood. H.W. is the adopted son of oilman Daniel Plainview, played by Daniel Day-Lewis. The film shows the difficult and changing relationship between the father and the boy. Freasier’s role is small in screen time but important to the story.At the time of filming, Dillon Freasier was not a trained actor. He was a school student living near Marfa, Texas, where much of the movie was shot. The casting team found him through his school principal. He did not go through the usual audition process. The filmmakers believed he was right for the role based on his natural presence.Years after the film’s release, director Quentin Tarantino made headlines for criticizing Paul Dano’s performance as Eli Sunday. He said Austin Butler would have been a better choice for the role. This comment led to confusion online. Some also mixed it up with Dillon Freasier’s role. However, Tarantino’s comments were only about Eli Sunday, not about H.W. Plainview.Dillon Freasier’s role as H.W. Plainview"There Will Be Blood" New York Premiere - Reception - Source: GettyDillon Freasier played H.W. Plainview as a child. This character is presented as Daniel Plainview's son and is often seen with him at oil sites. Daniel introduces H.W. as a family man to win the trust of landowners. This makes Daniel a significant aspect of the child in publicity.In the tale, H.W. suffers an accident in an explosion at an oil rig. The accident leaves him deaf. This is the point at which the relationship between Daniel and H.W. starts to shift. Daniel alienates the boy and drives him away. This change is important for demonstrating Daniel's downward emotional state and his increasing solitude.Freasier's performance was well-received. Although he did not get any training as an actor, his performance was natural to the audience. His scenes were light emotionally without a lot of dialogue. He was nominated with a Young Artist Award in the year 2007. This was an appreciation of the influence of his work in the film.Read More: Atlanta Film Critics Circle Awards (AFCC) 2025: Complete Winners list exploredQuentin Tarantino’s criticism and the Austin Butler debateQuentin Tarantino criticized Paul Dano’s performance as Eli Sunday during a podcast appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast. He called the performance “weak sauce.” He also said that Austin Butler would have been a stronger choice for the role. This comment quickly spread across social media and film discussion platforms.Paul Dano played both Eli Sunday and his twin brother, Paul Sunday, in the film. Eli—an evangelist and one of Daniel Plainview’s chief adversaries- embodies the force of religion and moral authority, standing in contrast to Daniel’s ambition and greed. Upon the film’s release, Dano’s dual performance drew widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences.Tarantino’s comments did not alter the film’s legacy or its critical reputation; they simply added another perspective to ongoing discussions among movie enthusiasts. Some viewers agreed with his take, while others firmly disagreed. It’s also important to clarify that his remarks had no connection to Dillon Freasier, who played a different character and was never implicated in Tarantino’s statements.Read More: Why did Simon Cowell offer Britney Spears early out from 'The X Factor'? Judge says pop star's early excitement didn't match what happened on camera