I started streaming Rebel Ridge with moderate expectations after seeing the basic plot description on Netflix - an ex-Marine gets wrongfully targeted by corrupt small-town cops.
The opening scene drew me in right away. We're introduced to Terry Richmond, our protagonist, as he rides into an unnamed small town, listening to Fear of the Dark by Iron Maiden blaring on his headphones. Right away, you can see he's someone who marches to the beat of his own drum. It was a cool music choice that set an edgy tone. As Terry drives into trouble with the corrupt local police, the seeds are planted for the revenge/redemption story to come.
It quickly becomes clear that First Blood loosely inspired Rebel Ridge, with Terry filling a similar role to John Rambo. He's an outsider with a mysterious background who finds himself on the wrong side of a crooked Southern sheriff. Like Rambo, Terry is a highly skilled fighter who is forced to confront a criminal justice system that has failed him. Director Jeremy Saulnier pays homage to the 1980s action classic without directly copying it. Fans of First Blood should find some familiar thrills here.
Where the movie succeeds most is in its characters. Aaron Pierre owns the role of Terry Richmond. He brings a quiet intensity and sense of control to the character. You totally buy him as a man capable of violence but choosing to restrain himself. His chemistry with AnnaSophia Robb's Summer McBride gives the film an emotional core as they work together to expose corruption. Don Johnson is excellent as the villainous sheriff Burnne - you love to hate him. All the performances feel real and lived in.
The small Louisiana town where most of the action is set feels like a genuinely oppressive place where a few bad apples can really exploit the system. Saulnier directs the tense scenes of police harassment and judiciary-related drama very well. You grow more frustrated right along with Terry at the injustice of it all. The dialogue is sharp, and the mood Saulnier creates keeps you engaged throughout the two-hour runtime.
My main critique would be that Rebel Ridge plays things a bit too safe. Given the setup of a war veteran pushed to the edge by a crooked system, I wanted the movie to take bigger risks. There are also some loose plot threads that feel unnecessary. A tighter script could have packed more punch into less time.
Overall, Rebel Ridge is a solid Netflix action-thriller that will keep you entertained for a couple hours. Fans of character-driven action will find a lot to like. But it plays things too conservatively to reach true greatness or stand out among the many films exploring similar themes of injustice and corruption. I can appreciate what Saulnier was going for, but this story would have benefited from pushing some boundaries and taking greater risks.