Rebel Ridge: Movie Review
Aaron Pierre and AnnaSophia Robb star in a too long for its own good revenge tale that lacks what it needs to justify a 2+ hour runtime.
Spoiler Alert: This post may contain spoilers. Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.
Plot Summary
With learning his cousin has been arrested, Terry gets the money required for his bail, and heads to the court house. Now, due to the local cops being corrupt, and seeing a Black man riding on a bike with a huge bookbag, they suspect the worst and when they find all of the bail money, which is in cash? They take it. Terry questions the legality of this at the court house with one of the clerk’s, Summer, who breaks down the process. So, Terry rushes for a different way to get the money and with the police, specifically Chief Sandy Burne being unwilling to compromise, Terry is forced to escalate the situation until the town has more to worry about than past fears of bankruptcy to the point of becoming disincorporated.
Noted Cast and Characters Of “Rebel Ridge”
Aaron Pierre As Terry
Terry is a former marine who may never had the experience of being shipped off overseas, but has vast combat experience which makes him as dangerous as any other marine.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Brother.”
AnnaSophia Robb As Summer
Summer is a lawyer in the making, with a past that includes a little girl who she is fighting for the custody for.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Words on Bathroom Walls.”
Don Johnson As Chief Burne
Chief Burne’s police force damn near bankrupt the town previously, and now he finds creative ways to compensate for past wrong doing by exploiting legal loopholes that extract money out of people.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Book Club 2: The Next Chapter.”
The Gist
The TLDR Recap/ Review
- All Terry wanted to do was get his cousin out of jail so, using his savings and cashing out some equity, he got more than enough money to bail him out and for them to start a new life.
- Unfortunately, on the way to bail his cousin out, he stumbled upon a corrupt town whose police force is led by Chief Sandy Burne.
- After some scandals and lawsuits, Chief Burne damn near bankrupt the town and so, he figured a way to restore its money and then some, with many just going along with it.
- However, with Terry being a marine, and Chief Burne refusing to negotiate or play fair, Terry, alongside Summer and others, set fire to all the Chief has built up.
- When it comes to “Rebel Ridge,” what would have made this better is if it were shorter.
- This comes off as the film that tried to, or wanted to, make a shoot em’ up revenge story something with depth, and it doesn’t succeed.
- Which leaves you with a slog of a film that has its moments, but they are so meek, and too far between each other to give this film what it needs.
- So while we are an eternal AnnaSophia Robb fan, I would say, unless you want to support an actor you really like who is part of this, save your time when it comes to “Rebel Ridge.”
Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Check out our movies page for our latest movie reviews and recommendations.
On The Fence
The Action Sequences
“Rebel Ridge” has hand to hand combat, gun scenes, explosions and more, but it doesn’t have the sound or have the impact of violence needed or expected. Because of this, it’s all flash, without the oomph to make it so you will grimace, jump in your seat, or see Terry as a bad ass who deserve to be put alongside Rambo and man other military men seeking justice.
Summer and Terry’s Friendship
Perhaps the best thing about “Rebel Ridge” is Terry and Summer’s friendship. There are no signs, signals, or sense of longing between them to imply it could become romantic, it is just a nice lady who sees a man being given a hard time trying to help. In turn, when things get rough for her, he returns the favor, and it is hard to not appreciate this.
For one, it pushes the idea that not all friendships between people of the opposite sex in action oriented movies have to lead to sex, at minimum, or a relationship. Sometimes, people can share an issue, work together, and bond over the shared trauma of having to face what was once a insurmountable odd. No different from what viewers go through at this own jobs.
The Focus On Legal Forfeiture
It wasn’t until seeing this Huffpost article by Marco Margaritoff that it even crossed my mind that Civil Asset Forfeiture was something worth noting. With the focus more so on Terry getting justice for his cousin and later Summer, as much as his money being taken was a thing, even noted to keep the town’s budget going, it wasn’t high up on what I thought about when thinking of this movie.
But, I will admit, reading the article, taking note of the availability people have to do that, it is worth applause. I feel like the movie certainly wasn’t trying to “Expose” as noted in the article’s title, but using it as a driving force does remind you that even if a movie may feel mindless at times, it could actually have something worth noting behind it.
It Didn’t Need To Be Two Hours
Here is the thing about “Rebel Ridge,” it easily could be a straight forward but it becomes convulated. Some may appreciate that, as it dives into legal forfeiture, touches upon how rural communities operate and deal with the looming potential of being swallowed up by the county, among other issues, like Summer’s drug problem and redemption arc. All of this is wonderful but like many films that want to touch on many topics of interest, I would submit it never goes in on any topic as far as it should or you may want.
Legal Forfeiture sounds alarming, but we don’t get to hear how widespread it is or get to hear about bigger name examples. The plight many rural communities might be going through which could lead to them becoming disincorporated and swallowed by other government entities, if not becoming ghost towns, isn’t pushed enough for you to maybe get a gray viewpoint of the chief. Heck, even with Summer’s former addiction, while it is wonderful to see her clean and working towards something, it isn’t pushed hard the environment which led to her life going down that path.
All we get is a lot of information, but we don’t get the depth of what most of it means, hence why the whole legal forfeiture plot more so just seemed like a means to get Terry started than something the audience should take note of and research on their own.
General Information
Film Length
2 Hours 11 Minutes
Date Released
September 6, 2024
How To Watch “Rebel Ridge”
Where To Buy, Rent or Subscribe To Watch This:
Distributor
Netflix
- The distributor is also known for “Everything Now.”
Director(s)
Jeremy Saulnier
Writer(s)
Jeremy Saulnier
Based On Work By
N/A
Genre(s)
Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Content Rating
Content Information
- Dialog: Cursing
- Violence: Gun Violence, Blood, Notable Fight Scenes
- Sexual Content: N/A
- Miscellaneous: Drinking, Drug Use, Vomiting
- Are There Jump Scares: No
- Is There a Chance It Will Make You Cry: No
Why Is The Movie Named “Rebel Ridge?”
There is a location in the movie, Rebel Ridge, where Terry was supposed to meet the cops, which would have been a major moment for the film.
Is There A Mid-Credit or Post-Credit Scene For “Rebel Ridge?”
Nope.
