Rebel Ridge is a 2024 American crime-action thriller helmed by Jeremy Saulnier, who also wrote, produced, and edited the film.
The story follows Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond, a former Marine who attempts to secure bail for his cousin, only to face opposition from a corrupt police force through civil forfeiture.
The film also stars Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, David Denman, Emory Cohen, Steve Zissis, Zsané Jhé, Dana Lee, and James Cromwell.
The film has drawn comparisons to First Blood but maintains a unique identity through Saulnier’s deft direction, combining action sequences with a dark sense of humor and a pointed social message. Notably, the movie grapples with themes like property seizure and how de-escalation techniques can be used manipulatively by corrupt authorities.
The movie had a challenging production, including a major delay when John Boyega, originally cast in the lead role, exited the project. After recasting and resuming in 2022, the film finally wrapped, and is now set for release on Netflix on September 6, 2024.
The film has become globally number 1 making Incoming 4.
It has a runtime of 2 hours and 12 minutes and is rated TV-MA for violence, strong language, and other mature themes. The film’s first half has received particular praise for its pacing and structure, though some reviews mention a slight narrative dip midway through.
Released on September 6, 2024, by Netflix, Rebel Ridge received positive reviews from critics.
Plot Summary
The film opens with Terry Richmond riding into the small town of Shelby Springs, hoping to post bail for his cousin, Mike Simmons, and purchase a truck to start an honest business.
However, his plans are thwarted when two corrupt officers, Evan Marston and Steve Lann, confiscate his legally-earned $36,000 through civil forfeiture. Despite seeking help from the courthouse clerk, Terry faces roadblocks until a kind-hearted employee, Summer McBride, offers to help him if he can gather $10,000 before his cousin’s transfer to state prison, where Mike is in danger due to a deal he made with a gangster.
Frustrated by the system, Terry tries to report the money theft at the police station, only to be confronted by Chief Sandy Burnne.
After multiple attempts to resolve the situation peacefully, Terry takes matters into his own hands. A skilled fighter, he disarms the corrupt officers, forces them to return a portion of his money, and posts bail for Mike. Unfortunately, he learns that Mike has been fatally stabbed during his transfer.
Summer, meanwhile, gets into trouble after being framed by the police, leading Terry to team up with her to uncover a deeper conspiracy within the town.
The duo discovers that local authorities are covering up wrongful detentions to avoid transparency regulations that would reveal their corruption. As Terry fights to expose the truth and retrieve incriminating evidence, he clashes with officers who are determined to silence him.
With the help of Marston, who turns against his corrupt colleagues, Terry is able to save Summer and secure key evidence. The film concludes with a high-stakes chase and confrontation, where justice is served and the corrupt police chief is finally arrested.
Cast
– Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond
– Don Johnson as Chief Sandy Burnne
– AnnaSophia Robb as Summer McBride
– David Denman as Officer Evan Marston
– Emory Cohen as Officer Steve Lann
– Steve Zissis as Elliot
– Zsané Jhé as Officer Jessica Sims
– Dana Lee as Mr. Liu
– James Cromwell as Judge
In late 2019, John Boyega was initially cast in the lead role, but he exited the project during filming in June 2021 due to personal reasons.
Aaron Pierre replaced Boyega, and filming resumed after a brief halt. Shot primarily in Louisiana, production wrapped in July 2021. The film underwent post-production throughout 2023 and was finalized in early 2024.
Rebel Ridge debuted on Netflix on September 6, 2024, and garnered over 31.2 million views in its first weekend.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 94% approval rating based on 67 reviews, praising its intelligent script and Aaron Pierre’s breakout performance. Metacritic scored the film a 77/100, signaling generally favorable reviews.
