What more can one ask for than a one-man army protagonist in an action movie? Well, Rebel Ridge, which released on Netflix on September 6th, delivers on this idea, but in one of the more socially conscience ways I’ve ever seen!
Originally developed in 2019, and slated to star John Boyega in the lead role, Rebel Ridge got delayed by the pandemic and Boyega’s exit. However, things picked up when actor Aaron Pierre stepped in to help director Jeremy Saulnier and finish production. Now, the film is receiving many rave reviews, and it’s not hard to see why!
Credible Actors in Credible Action
You can definitely picture John Boyega as protagonist Terry Richmond. In fact, he probably could’ve given a great performance. However, I’m really, really glad Aaron Pierre plays him in Rebel Ridge! An up-and-coming actor, Pierre has the right build to look like an ex-Marine, which is who Terry is.
However, Terry would be boring if he was all muscle and no weakness. In the movie, an altercation between Terry and the police of Shelby Springs spirals out of control in his quest to post bail for his cousin. It’s a lot to take in. But Pierre is phenomenal, showing us every facet and emotion of Terry.
When tragedy strikes, Pierre cries with sincerity. When it’s time to face attackers, Pierre’s face becomes stone as he dispatches them. In talking to the police early on, he brings patience to the proceedings. He makes Terry human, relatable, and quite frankly, a badass!
Besides Pierre, we have Don Johnson playing Chief Sandy Burnne, the villain of Rebel Ridge. Johnson made a big impression semi-recently with his turn as an antagonist in Knives Out (2019), and he makes the most of his villain role here. A thin veneer of Southern charm is quickly broken with immense hostility. He’s a perfect yin to Pierre’s yang.
AnnaSophia Robb is also a key part of the main ensemble, playing Summer McBride. Working in the courthouse to help Terry, Robb portrays Southern hospitality quite well. Her willingness to help Terry coupled with her own complicated history makes her compelling in her own right, and she makes you want to believe in the good side of people.
Rebel Ridge‘s Portrayal of Police
What caught my eye when the trailer for Rebel Ridge came out was the subject matter it seemed to be tackling. Action movies are no stranger to protagonists being drawn into the fold to right the wrongs they themselves have faced. However, with a rise in attention to incidents of police brutality, Rebel Ridge looked like it was helping to highlight this issue.
It didn’t totally go down the route I supposed, but it’s clear that writer/director Jeremy Saulnier aims to examine our legal system. The conclusion? Well, it’s messy as hell, and the ones who seek power will do anything to keep it. Even if it means creating problems with people. And as long as the system is in place and benefits people, there’s virtually no oversight.
As mentioned before, casting is key for this. Johnson is great, and his main underlings, Officers Marston (David Denman) and Lann (Emory Cohen) are suitably untrustworthy. However, the screenplay does a great job of expanding the stakes.
For example, Terry gets ran off the road. The cops question him, and then discover his bail money. He explains the situation, but they keep the money. He tries to report this, but the chief denies him his right to it. There’s a constant push/pull dynamic in how the police go about their business, and it makes us not only sympathize with Terry, but also understand that there’s something wrong with how the police operate.
Rebel Ridge vs. Rambo
For cinephiles, Rebel Ridge brought echoes to an older action classic: First Blood (1982). Starring Sylvester Stallone, the movie centers around John Rambo, a Vietnam vet who wanders into a town in the Pacific Northwest. The police take issue with him, and he escapes from their custody, fighting back as they track him.
A huge success that spawned multiple sequels, it’s easy to look at Rebel Ridge and see the comparisons to the Stallone movie. Both have veterans coming to towns they’ve never been to. Both try reason before being pushed to an alternative. And, both have our protagonists going against a corrupt police force, and have little to no death.
However, to call Rebel Ridge a carbon copy would be a disservice. First Blood lingers on the forest where Rambo hides; an expansive space. It’s themes lie with the mistreatment of veterans in the U.S. after the Vietnam War. The action is also on a bigger scale, utilizing helicopters, trucks, and explosions.
By contrast, Rebel Ridge develops the Southern town where our story is. Thus, it makes the story richer and corruption deeper. The action is scaled down, with Terry still being a force, while aiming only to disarm and incapacitate in hand-to-hand combat. The tone is also different. It’s a thriller, escalating and keeping you on the edge of your seat. First Blood has moments of decompression. Rebel Ridge has less of those.
And, of course, this movie aims to exploit loopholes that are in use in our country’s legal systems, rather than veteran situations. So, while it’s clear First Blood might’ve been an invaluable text for Rebel Ridge, it’s not a remake, and all the better for it!
Final Thoughts
The best movies are often the ones that entertain you while making you think. Rebel Ridge did both for me, and I have no issue with calling it one of the best movies of the year so far!
As an action movie, you couldn’t deliver a more solid lead performance than Aaron Pierre does here, and I hope his career picks up. The way he lends credibility to the great action scenes is icing on the cake.
In terms of thematics, it’s able to raise awareness about a real issue without sounding preachy or condescending. That’s hard to do, but I think in this current climate, media like Rebel Ridge can have an impact, all while being a sturdy movie in its chosen genre. If you have Netflix, give it a chance, because I think this has a chance to become a classic!
