Rebel Ridge (2024): Download & Watch
Review: Rebel Ridge
Jeremy Saulnier Delivers a Gripping, Subtle Thriller on Corruption and Revenge
Jeremy Saulnier returns with Rebel Ridge, a tense and measured crime-conspiracy thriller that dives deep into small-town police corruption and the consequences of crossing the wrong man. The film taps into familiar themes from Saulnier’s past work but brings a new, more controlled energy to the narrative.
Comparisons to Saulnier’s 2013 breakout Blue Ruin are inevitable, as both films focus on characters seeking revenge. However, in Rebel Ridge, Terry Richmond (played brilliantly by Aaron Pierre) is far more capable and dangerous than Macon Blair’s vagrant protagonist from Blue Ruin. Pierre delivers a captivating and intense performance, giving Terry a quiet strength and calculated menace.
Rebel Ridge isn’t a non-stop action film, but its violent outbursts are carefully spaced, making them feel sharp and precise. Though less bloody than Blue Ruin or the relentless assault of Green Room or Hold the Dark, the film still packs a visceral punch. It’s a mix of revenge and conspiracy, starting with a "legal" seizure of money that spirals into a much larger, systemic issue tied to police militarization and institutionalized crime.
The film doesn’t shy away from tough themes, with dialogue that touches on racial violence, systemic corruption, and the militarization of the police, all encapsulated in one cynical statement: “Civil unrest: it’s a growth industry.” One particularly slimy character even sports a ‘Thin Blue Line’ patch, symbolizing his self-righteousness despite his role in perpetuating brutality.
On the surface, the premise might sound like a standard action movie—“a six-foot-tall ex-marine takes on local corruption”—but Saulnier’s storytelling, combined with Pierre’s grounded performance, keeps the film far from the absurdity of typical action thrillers like Jack Reacher. Rebel Ridge feels realistic and close to home, especially in its portrayal of how bureaucracy can be used as a weapon to dehumanize and frustrate individuals.
The film’s inciting incident is both shocking and familiar: Terry is deliberately knocked off his bike by a police car, only for the incident to be written off as a "collision." The police fabricate charges to seize the large sum of money he’s carrying, setting off a series of events that sees Terry fighting not just for his stolen cash but for his dignity. The cops, operating more like a gang than law enforcement, trap Terry in a web of red tape—an experience that feels alarmingly true to life.
Time is crucial for Terry, as he’s racing to post bail for his cousin, whose life is in danger inside the state prison. But with the bail money locked away by the local police, Terry is forced into a desperate struggle against a corrupt system that seems designed to grind people down.
Aaron Pierre’s portrayal of Terry elevates the film. He captures both the vulnerability of a man wronged and the cold, steely resolve of someone who’s not to be messed with. Pierre’s performance, alongside Saulnier’s patient pacing, makes every moment of Terry’s restrained anger and calculated retaliation deeply satisfying.
Saulnier’s skillful use of setting also plays a key role in the film’s atmosphere. He has always excelled at creating tension in rural, isolated environments, as seen in Blue Ruin and Hold the Dark. In Rebel Ridge, these wide-open spaces feel both expansive and claustrophobic, heightening the film’s sense of unease and danger. Whether it’s a quiet standoff in a confined space or the terrifying feeling of being pursued on an open road, Saulnier masterfully orchestrates the film’s suspenseful moments.
Rebel Ridge feels like the culmination of everything Saulnier has been building towards in his previous films. It skillfully balances gripping action with a biting critique of a broken system—one that is, disturbingly, functioning exactly as intended. The film exposes how legal systems can be manipulated to benefit those in power, while everyday people are left to suffer.
The anger at this realization sharpens Rebel Ridge into a powerful and unforgettable thriller. Its intense, thought-provoking narrative and Pierre’s magnetic performance make it one of Saulnier’s most compelling films to date—one that deserves to be seen by as wide an audience as possible.
: Download & Watch){kind=link}
0 Comments