Quentin Tarantino has divided film buffs with his recent brutal criticisms of Paul Dano … and a star of “There Will Be Blood” is calling cut on the hot take.

Here’s the deal … recently on “The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast,” Tarantino tore apart Dano’s work … specifically mentioning the 2007 Daniel Day-Lewis flick. QT spit fire, proclaiming it’s nearly a perfect film … had Paul essentially not screwed it up. Needless to say, fans of the movie — and of Dano — were left asking … WTF, bro?!?

Dillon Freasier, who played the child version of H.W. Plainview in ‘Blood,’ tells TMZ … QT is allowed his opinion — and when it comes to cinema he’s usually spot on — but this insight missed the mark!

As for QT’s suggestion that Austin Butler would have been better in that role than Dano … Dillon laughs off the nonsensical suggestion, since AB was 15 when they made the film … and PD was in his early 20s. So yeah, apples and oranges.

Don’t get it twisted … DF says he’s a massive Tarantino fan, and he’s sure QT is right in his own mind … but that means people who are pissed about the remarks are also right. Basically, you can have your milkshake, but can’t always drink it too.

It turns out … “There Will Be Blood” is the only film or TV credit Dillon has on his resume … telling us, making the film was wonderful, and it turned out perfect, but he had no interest in pursuing acting as a career — and walked away to have a private life with a big Hollywood W.