MIDNIGHT REVIEWS Rebel Ridge Review
In which a small town is infested by big-time corruption.
Rebel Ridge (2hr 11mins)
Directed by: Jeremy Saulnier
Featuring: Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb
Synopsis: An ex-marine stumbles upon immense corruption in a small town when he attempts to post bail for his cousin.
Review: Rebel Ridge drops you straight into the situation and lets you know what sort of film it’s going to be, setting up character and plot within the first five minutes. It might be one of the most efficient first acts seen in a while.
Setting up a world where those who do the right thing are often screwed because of that choice, Rebel Ridge opens with Terry (Pierre) cycling with his head phones in. Unfortunately, he doesn’t hear the police car behind him and is accused of refusing to stop, and eventually accused of running money for drugs even after explaining that he is posting bail for his cousin and plans to set up a business in order to keep this cousin out of trouble.
Too bad the police officers (David Denham and Emory Cohen, the former having just been seen playing another shitbag police officer in Eric) decide to confiscate all his money anyway. Cue Terry trying to get his money back, behaving perfectly reasonably and getting nowhere for his troubles. This leads to a thriller with a hint of revenge flavouring for good measure as Terry tries to right wrongs. Rambo with realism.
Rebel Ridge could’ve been a cheap thrill of a movie, full of violence and bad one-liners. It could have cheapened the experience further by featuring characters solidly in the ‘good’ or ‘bad’ category, reducing complexity in exchange for emotional clarity. The movie gets close to simplifying character motivations, but manages to find the balance this story needs.
Fortunately, despite the B-movie possibilities, Rebel Ridge is a lot deeper and is rewarding because of the extra thought put into it. A tight, solid script helps deliver, though the film does suffer slightly from an overextended running time leading to an ending that simultaneously feels like it’s come from nowhere.
The introduction to a star in the making.
The movie seems to be primarily dealing with the theme of the law only working for a few, when it should work for everyone, along with what happens when someone who just wants to walk away or act reasonably keeps getting pushed. Tumours so bedded into a community they can’t be treated, let alone simply cut out.
In the little moments, the moments that are underrated, the film’s efficiency is one of its strengths. Terry pausing his aggressive metal mix after being run off the road by police, an early hint at his self-control that plays its part even when surrounded by gun-toting police officers. The film somehow has its cake and eats it too with a couple of chest-thumping scenes where Terry’s marine training comes to the fore, with the twist that he isn’t a typical death-spewing protagonist.
There’s also a very hard cut from Terry getting shot at, to a bunch of young children in a playground, suggesting how the police’s decisions affect all those around them, even indirectly. A small moment that could’ve been left out without anyone realising, but incredibly effective having been included.
Don Johnson delivers a scumbag who’s great at playing the long game, a character with so little self-awareness he can serve up excuses that only implicate himself and those around him.
The character of Terry embodies several things Americans are told are great. He is a hard worker, respectful, puts his time in as a marine. He is even self-sustaining, a freedom that makes up the bedrock of American myth. Despite this he must have private conversations in the dark and put up with thieves in the place where police should be.
Aaron Pierre, previously seen in M. Night Shyamalan’s Old and TV series The Underground Railroad, delivers an understated, superlative performance. It is not an understatement to say that this film fails without him. There are many compliments that could be thrown Pierre’s way, but the main one would be to simply describe his performance as magnetic. It feels like he’s in every shot and this is surely the introduction to a star in the making.
Rebel Ridge is available to stream on Netflix, but really should’ve had a cinema release.
Matthew D. Smith likes to overshare his views on movies and TV shows whenever and wherever he can. Indulge him, and follow him on Twitter or listen to the podcast he co-hosts with Leslie Wai.
