The Stream: A typical revenge plot hits familiar beats.

The Big Screen: Aaron Pierre gives a commanding performance.

The Final Bill: Kicking butt and taking names in an obvious way with random weird story points in a small town

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Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Writers: Jeremy Saulnier
Stars: Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, David Denman, James Cromwell
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Runtime: 2 hours 2 minutes
Production Companies: Bonneville Pictures, Film Science
Platform: On Netflix September 6, 2024
Notable Trailers: His Three Daughters, The Piano Lesson, Will & Harper, Six Triple Eight

Hey, Streamers! Every now and then, you need a movie that relies on a veteran with a very particular set of skills. It has been Liam Neeson that has filled that role many times over ever since the Taken movies. Or even Dwayne Johnson in his role in Walking Tall. Now, we have a character for a new generation in the new Netflix release, Rebel Ridge. In this movie, Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre), a former Marine, rides his bike into a small town in Alabama with a backpack full of money that he intends to use as bail for his cousin. When Terry gets accosted by some unscrupulous local police who seize the cash as part of a civil forfeiture scheme, Terry with the help of a local court clerk, Summer (AnnaSophia Robb), uses his wits and special skills to attempt to reclaim his funds and save his cousin. A corrupt police chief and the smell a racism put more obstacles in Terry’s way. Gun fights, stakes out, and hijinks that make you say “DAMN!?!” ensue.

The plot of Rebel Ridge is pretty standard. In the first scene, we get the set-up that will inevitably lead to an obvious revenge thriller; but, the movie does have some tricks of its sleeve. Primarily, the casting of Aaron Pierre as the lead was a big win. Pierre has a commanding presence, which fills the screen and draws the audience in. This role is a staunch upgrade from playing rapper Midsize Sedan in the movie Old. Here, he plays Terry as a sympathetic character but he’s never a pushover. When Pierre gets to let loose, it’s really entertaining. Second, while the overall plot is predictable, there are some nuggets about Terry that you don’t necessarily see coming and there’s at least one other place where the movie zigs instead of zags. It doesn’t always make sense, but it does keep you engaged. There are only a few action sequences in the movie, but they are exciting and impactful when they occur. I think this movie will get your blood boiling from the injustices and your blood pumping from the intense moments. Lastly, I’ll say that Don Johnson plays the villain really well. He’s immediately hateable and you’ll be rooting for his downfall.

Ultimately, Rebel Ridge is an entertaining movie that is a decent addition to the revenge thriller genre. While the plot is mostly predictable, the film is lifted by a strong performance from Aaron Pierre and a few instances of surprise peppered throughout. Grab a bowl of popcorn because Rebel Ridge might be your next Netflix guilty pleasure.