REBEL RIDGE (2024) - Movie Review

Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Starring: Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Emory Cohen, David Denman
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller, Drama
Writer: Jeremy Saulnier
Runtime: 131 min
Rated: TV-MA
Buy This Movie: Netflix

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Synopsis:

A former Marine confronts corruption in a small town when local law enforcement unjustly seizes the bag of cash he needs to post his cousin's bail.

Review:

Jeremy Saulnier, the writer and director of the revenge thriller "Blue Ruin" and the hellishly vicious "Green Room" returns with "Rebel Ridge", an action thriller that doesn't feel as dark as his previous films, and is perhaps his most accessible from a mainstream point of view. Aaron Pierre stars as Terry Richmond, a Marine Corps veteran with a particular set of skills, who is on his way to the town of Shelby Springs, Louisiana to post bail for his cousin. An unfortunate run-in with the local police ends with the bail money unjustly seized, which forces Terry to take matters into his own hands and go to war with the town's corrupt police chief (Don Johnson).

Saulnier isn't interested in making a revenge fantasy film in the vein of "Taken" or "The Punisher", and takes the grounded approach to themes of police violence, racism and abuse of power. The story somewhat echoes the Rambo movie "First Blood". Terry Richmond's military background would make him the perfect killing machine, but he's not a blood-thirsty vigilante. His body count stays at zero for the entire duration of this movie. Richmond applies pragmatic calculated logic, breaks the rules because he's not willilng to suffer injustice quietly, but never sacrifices his moral high ground in the process, which makes him a pretty wholesome badass.

Terry's non-lethal takedowns are pretty impressively choreographed and creative, and the stakes are considerably higher knowing that while he won't kill anyone, his opponents will absolutely used deadly force against him. Pierre does a fantastic job with the fight sequences, and the sheer physicality of his fighting style is a sight to behold. The third act showdown is a fantastic set piece and one of the film's standout highlights.

That being said, the plot is a bit uneven and sluggish, and the running time slightly too long, but an undercurrent of righteous indignation and an old-school western vibe fuel the film's momentum even through its rough patches. Action fans will probably be disappointed by the film's slow-burn pace, but there's plenty of tension as the conflict escalates and the cast really helps keep things engaging. Pierre delivers a strong breakout performance and possesses an impressively commanding screen presence, while Johnson is an equally powerful antagonist who you will love to hate. Their scenes together are electrifying. AnnaSophia Robb is also effective in a supporting role as a court clerk who turns out to be an unlikely ally in Richmond's crusade for justice.

As with his previous films, Saulnier avoids the genre's beaten path, which adds a sense of unpredictability to "Rebel Ridge" as it juggles between dealing with major themes and providing escapist entertainment. It might not be to everyone's liking, but I do strongly recommend you give it a try.

SCORE: 8.5/10