Aaron Pierre Steals the Spotlight in Gripping Thriller ‘Rebel Ridge’

Barely a minute passes before we’re sucked into the latest Netflix original film, Rebel Ridge. Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre; Brother) is riding his bike down a country road. His ears are pumping heavy metal, so he doesn’t notice the police officer’s weak attempt at gaining his attention. The officer taps the bike with his vehicle, causing Terry to fly off onto the road. 

There’s mounting unease between Terry and the officers. The officers find stacks of cash in Terry’s belongings. He ensures that the money is legit and that some of it is to be used to bail his cousin out of jail. The officers claim suspicion of criminal activity and seize his funds. This nail-biting scene introduces us to a film that could’ve easily become a revenge thriller but, to our delight, evolves into a deeper story.

Written, directed, and edited by Jeremy Saulnier, Rebel Ridge feels like a late ‘80s, early ‘90s crime thriller thanks to a story that goes much further than your smash-and-pound movie. Once cracked open, it unfolds with multi-dimensional characters and multi-layered commentary. 

Saulnier makes it easy for audiences to unite against Chief Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson; Knives Out) from the very beginning, starting with the seizure of Terry’s money under civil forfeiture, a real and legal practice. This takes the narrative beyond what appeared to be just racism in the opening scene. Instead, it highlights greed, entitlement, and unchecked power.

One thing to be admired about the film is that none of the violence feels forced or unnecessary. On the contrary, in fact. Terry exhausts all options before he has to resort to violence and even then, he uses non-lethal methods which gifts us one of the few action films where the main character doesn’t actually kill anyone. Terry shows that the greatest strength lies in restraint. Despite the events he endures at the hands of corrupt cops, he remains level-headed and focused on the task at hand. Several times throughout the film, Terry was willing to let the officers continue their corrupt ways, as long as he could bail his cousin out of jail.

As the goalposts move throughout the story, Terry adjusts accordingly but only as much as necessary. More than that, he’s fully prepared and willing to take responsibility for any carnage left in his wake. Originally, John Boyega held the role for Terry Richmond but had to exit the project mid-shoot due to family reasons. What may have felt like a major blow to Saulnier’s project actually turned out to be a gain. After watching Rebel Ridge, it’s clear that Pierre fits Terry’s character like a glove.

Though a smidge too long, the payoff will make up for what some might feel is a bit tedious of a journey, especially in the second act. 

Still, this ain’t no soup sandwich. Rebel Ridge is easily one of the best Netflix original films that actually deliver what feels like a cinematic adventure. If you think you’re going to watch an action flick, hold on to your couch cushion because what you’ll get is so much more.

Rebel Ridge is currently streaming on Netflix.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars