REBEL RIDGE (NETFLIX) (2024)

SYNOPSIS: A former Marine grapples his way through a web of small-town corruption when an attempt to post bail for his cousin escalates into a violent standoff with the local police chief. He didn’t start this fight, but he will finish it. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

Minutes after the opening, we see a fit, black man on his mountain bike being knocked down by a police cruiser. The man is named Terry (Aaron Pierre) and he is on his way to the courthouse to post a $10,000 bail for his cousin. But the cops are firm on accusing him of not pulling over. They searched and took all the money in his backpack claiming it’s drug money.

Just when you are expecting Terry to tear down the cops with his handsome chiseled muscles, Rebel Ridge takes his time to simmer into a thrilling tale of masculinity and crime reminiscent of First Blood meets Jack Reacher.

Without resorting to violence, Terry wants to get back his money first through legal means. However, shady Police Chief Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson) is confiscating the money on the pretext of civil asset forfeiture, whatever that means we know it’s not true. When a law clerk Summer (AnnaSophia Robb) clues Terry on the corruption and complex running of the local police department and court system, he decides to literally takes matters into his own hands.

Terry for a start is never portray as a potent opponent for the bunch of bushy looking corrupted cops until later on. Terry is no ordinary ex-Marine but one that runs the martial arts program for Marines as it’s revealed humorously via some acronyms. Terry is an amazing written character. Cool, calm and never losing his composure and politeness even under the most stressful situations. With his magnetic good looks and solid leading man performance, Aaron Pierre no doubt is the breakout star here.

Though we haven’t seen writer/director Jeremy Saulnier’s previous works liked Green Room and Blue Ruin, kudos to the filmmaker who delivers a solid crime actioner without resorting to excessive violence. Not a single body count to be exact. It’s generally a slow-boiler building up to a Mexican standoff in the finale. Terry is a man who previously makes a living by teaching men on how to deescalate and he certainly lives up to it. No real bullets were used in his fights against the cops.

Liked Alex Garland’s Civil War, Saulnier certainly has something to say regarding the current political state of the country. Is corruption a common thing in the southern states? Or is it just an allegory up to your own interpretation? Anyway, former child actress AnnaSophia Robb’s Summer is the helpless witness to the crumbling justice system, Don Johnson’s Sandy is the evil mastermind while James Cromwell has a cameo as an aging judge embroiled in the whole conspiracy.

Despite a middling second act, Rebel Ridge is overall an entertaining crime thriller boasted by a confident cast and a wonderfully Aaron Pierre. The social commentary might a little undercooked but undeniably, Saulnier deserved more attention for his future endeavour.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee