‘Rebel Ridge’ Movie Review: Jeremy Saulnier’s Taut Thriller Gets Too Plotty
Photo from Allyson Riggs/Netflix
From Jeff Nelson
Jeremy Saulnier established himself as one of the generation’s most exciting thriller filmmakers with back-to-back stunners in Blue Ruin (2013) and Green Room (2015). Hold the Dark (2018) preserves his storytelling’s unrelenting bleakness, but it’s far from the great heights of the aforementioned knockouts. Saulnier returns to the director’s chair for another feature film with Rebel Ridge, which continues to prove his ability to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre) is an ex-Marine who rushes to post bail for his cousin and help turn his life around. A web of small-town corruption stands in his way, forcing him to confront Chief Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson) and his power-hungry ranks. Terry finds an ally in court clerk Summer McBride (AnnaSophia Robb), banding together to fight against authority for the entire community.
The story begins with Terry biking to deliver the bail money for his cousin, only to encounter an unnerving run-in with two police officers. He remains cordial through the unfair and targeted interaction, even when Chief Burnne later takes their disrespect to another level. Little do these police officers realize, they’re poking at a bear with lethal skills beyond their wildest imagination. Seemingly, the only kindness in this small town comes from Summer, who knows what it’s like to suffer at the hands of government systems. Terry’s cousin and Summer’s daughter hang in the balance of this struggle to save the true meaning of justice.
Rebel Ridge reveals Terry’s fighting prowess, which has been contained within a gym setting until now. Saulnier could have easily turned this into a one-man-army action movie variant, but he holds himself back in that department, which is both a compliment and a criticism. Terry and Summer primarily brawl with corruption through the pursuit of evidence, rather than violence. The threat of action looms over every confrontation, translating into marvelous tension. When the warfare finally comes to a head, it’s reminiscent of Saulnier’s brutal police shootout in Hold the Dark, but the nonlethal scrap here pales in comparison to the Alaskan skirmish.
Speaking of Saulnier’s filmography, Rebel Ridge is another excellent exercise in building tension, but it lacks the visual grit we’ve seen in his prior works. He trades his visceral aesthetic for the sleek, shiny look associated with typical Netflix action flicks. Even so, Saulnier’s direction remains strong and impactful.
You might recognize Pierre as Mid-Sized Sedan from M. Night Shyamalan’s Old (2021). Rebel Ridge is undeniable proof of his star power, showcasing his ability to carry action and dramatic beats with charisma. Johnson makes a great villain as Chief Burnne, concocting a character we desperately want to see get his comeuppance.
This small-town corruption thriller is far from Saulnier’s greatest work, getting too lost in the plot details that don’t end up anywhere particularly interesting. Even so, it’s rather entertaining and gripping for the majority of its runtime. Rebel Ridge is packed with more than enough suspense to make up for the conventional places it leads.
Rating: 3/5
Rebel Ridge streams on Netflix starting on September 6th, 2024.
