Rebel Ridge is a Netflix-distributed crime action thriller about Marine Corps veteran Terry Richmond, whose life takes a sharp turn when he becomes entangled in police corruption. After his cousin is detained, Terry sets out to post bail, only to have the money he gathered seized by corrupt officers. What starts as a simple mission to free his cousin quickly spirals into something much bigger.
Directed by Jeremy Saulnier, known for the incredibly tense Green Room, Rebel Ridge is an engaging thriller with plenty of hostage situations and suspenseful standoffs between Terry and the corrupt police. The real highlight of the film is Aaron Pierre’s star-making turn as Terry. Originally, John Boyega was set to play the role but dropped out, reportedly due to either family conflicts or dissatisfaction with the script. In hindsight, this casting change works in the film’s favor. Boyega’s involvement might have made the film feel too similar to his previous work in Breaking, but with Pierre, as the audience is unfamiliar with him, there’s an air of unpredictability that keeps things fresh. His portrayal is electric, bringing a dangerous, volatile energy to Terry, whose piercing bluish gray eyes and quiet intensity make it clear from the start that he’s not someone to mess with.
The film doesn’t waste time complicating its plot, but it does go out of its way to ensure we sympathize with Terry. In one early scene, a police officer escorting him even states, “He’s been through a lot,” practically broadcasting the film’s desire for us to root for him. This overt attempt to drum up sympathy for Terry feels a bit forced, but Pierre’s performance is strong enough to keep us invested regardless.
AnnaSophia Robb, who we haven’t seen in a major role for a while, brings some heart to the story. Her character, Summer McBride, serves as Terry’s ally and adds a layer of warmth to an otherwise cold and corrupt world. Don Johnson, on the other hand, is stuck in a fairly predictable villain role. While his performance is steady, the character’s actions are telegraphed well in advance, and there’s little in the way of surprise.
One of the film’s few missteps is its pacing. The action scenes, when they do happen, are well-shot and gripping, but there simply aren’t enough of them. Instead, the film spends a large portion of its runtime investigating the police corruption that we already know exists. This is what makes the middle hour feel sluggish, as not much of significance happens. The lack of twists or surprises also keeps the tension from ever fully escalating. It does get better as the third act kicks in, the pace picks up, delivering a more straightforward and intense conclusion.
Rebel Ridge is one of the better passable thrillers you’ll find on Netflix. It’s not groundbreaking, and it won’t stick with viewers long after the credits roll, but Aaron Pierre’s magnetic performance elevates the film and makes it worth a watch.
Still courtesy of Netflix
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- 56Rebel Ridge#56 of 110
- Where to watch
Netflix- Where to watch
- Netflix
Play trailer
- Original title
- Rebel Ridge
- Director
- Jeremy Saulnier
- Cast
- Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Emory Cohen, David Denman, Oscar Gale, Steve Zissis, Daniel Chung
- Rated
- R
- Screenwriter
- Jeremy Saulnier, Landon Lott
- Composer
- Brooke Blair, Will Blair
- Cinematography
- David Gallego
- Editor
- Jeremy Saulnier
- Country
- Language
- English
- Distributor (CA)
- Netflix