Ride or Die (Tribeca 2025) Film Review & Summary

Ride or Die finds its greatest strength in Stella Everett’s performance, but it struggles to move beyond the appearance of sensationalism.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on Hours Updated on

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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“Ride or Die” Film Details

  • Runtime: 1 Hour(s) and 25 Minutes
  • Seen Via: Film Festival – Tribeca Film Festival | Press Screening or Screener

Summary

Paula, who recently returned home to St. Louis after being out on the East Coast, runs into Sloane. When they were in high school, and Paula was deeply closeted, she had a crush on Sloane. Now, years later, Sloane takes notice of her, and whether it is for opportunity or genuine feelings, Sloane attaches herself to Paula’s hip and joins her as Paula plans to head west to California, with dreams of becoming a filmmaker.

Unbeknownst to her, Sloane is the type who inspires movies that are based on a true story – and usually not with happy endings.

Cast and Characters

Paula (Briana Middleton)

  • Character Summary: Paula wants to be a filmmaker, and even headed off to the East Coast to pursue building up her resume. However, she ended up back in St. Louis, in her mom’s religious household, with the next move seemingly heading to California. The only question is, without the support system she needs and desires, can she make it on her own?

Sloane (Stella Everett)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: With a chaotic upbringing, it is only natural for Sloane to be a chaotic adult. From drugs to sex, impetuous acts, she is a fun time, but also potentially dangerous in ways that someone who is a bit more low-key, like Paula, may not have been prepped for.

What To Expect In “Ride or Die” (Not Rated) – Content Overview

  • Dialog:
    • Cursing: Occasional
  • Violence:
    • Gun Violence: Present
    • Gore/ Blood: Moderate
  • Sexual Content:
    • Nudity: Mild
    • Sexual Situations: Implied
  • Miscellaneous:
    • Drinking: Yes
    • Drug Use: Implied
    • Vomiting: Yes
    • Smoking: Yes

Links

Review and Commentary

On The Fence

Sometimes It May Feel Like The Drugs & Violence Is Compensating For Other Elements Of The Movie [77/100]

Let me begin by saying, Ride or Die is an engaging movie that you’ll wish you got more out of. Sloane is a bit screwy, with it not being 100% clear where the line is for her, and as much as you may worry about Paula, you see her attracted to that magnetism, the chaos, to the point you know there will come a point where she is likely to snap and become the Harley Quinn to Sloane’s Joker.

But here is the problem: While Everett’s charisma is undeniable, the characters and story of Ride or Die can feel thin. Is it established that Sloane doesn’t come from a loving home? Yes. Is it also established Paula’s religious household is why she is closeted? Also yes. But, at times, it can feel like we’re watching a series of vignettes, featuring the situations Sloane got Paula into.

In some ways, you may enjoy this, for it almost feels like watching a mini-series shrunk into a 90-minute film, with a lot of the fat cut off. However, alongside cutting the fat, you lose the meat. For example, Sloane talks about dropping out of multiple schools, and an ex who left her messed up, but a lot of this feels very matter-of-fact and lacks the emotions that should be reinforcing the words. Because you get her acting erratic, desperate, and chaotic, it is likely from the trauma she experienced. But Ride or Die rarely pushes beyond that spectacle to make the quieter moments, the conversations which allow us to get to know the characters, feel meaningful.

I’d even say, regarding Paula’s sexuality, and the potential that Sloane is one of, if not her first, girlfriend, that magic of the first isn’t there. Never mind getting to be with the person you had a crush on in high school. It all just seems like the focus is on the bells and whistles, and a lot of what could have made Ride or Die something more than a handful of sex scenes, drugs, and violence, are downplayed.

Overall

Our Rating (77/100): Mixed (Divisive)

Ride or Die, when focused on intense scenes featuring drugs, sex, and violence, excels at grabbing your attention—especially thanks to Stella Everett’s captivating performance as the volatile Sloane. But while the film introduces intriguing characters, including those beyond the leads, it often feels like a well-made highlight reel or a fan edit from a favorite series that was canceled before reaching a proper conclusion.

For as much as Sloane’s presence draws you in—alongside the provocative moments only hinted at—what could help you feel something for the characters, rather than simply react to what they do next, often goes underexplored. The depth of characters is sometimes told instead of shown, leaving the film’s quieter or more intimate moments lacking the same impact as its sensationalized ones.

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.