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Rebel Ridge -
Maybe Crow was right in the Squirm episode of MST3K: you should "never go to the south for any reason" (I live in the south, so I can make that joke...right)? Anyway, this is another thriller from Jeremy Saulnier that justifies keeping a Netflix subscription. So, you may be asking yourself, "who is Aaron Pierre?" By doing so, you have revealed the movie's secret weapon. A main reason why this movie is so intense is the complete uncertainty regarding what the actor and his character, Terry, are capable of, which it always pays off and not just in the action scenes. Speaking of, while there is not a huge amount of action, this is one instance where less is actually more. Besides, you'll likely not mind because so much sweet, sweet tension buildup precedes every scene. While Pierre deserves credit for this, there's also how the movie reminds you how much cringe is inherent in the misuse of power. Are the cops in Shelby Springs led by Don Johnson’s deliciously smug Chief Burnne reaping benefits of the trap that poor Terry fell into? Sure, but to make things even more interesting and true to life, sadly, it's a trap they've set out of necessity more than choice. I also love how sympathetic and quietly strong AnnaSophia Robb is as Terry's ally in the town, James Cromwell's work as a crooked judge, and again, as a resident of the south, I love how you can always feel the heat.
Every Jeremy Saulnier movie I have seen is smart, keeps me on edge, and most importantly, reminds me why I love action thrillers. This applies to this one as well, which may be his best yet. He clearly did his research of municipal law while crafting this, which is a good thing, but if I have any complaints, the details of the town’s scheme are a tad convoluted. I had to pause and research a plot summary to confirm I fully understood it and it's not like I wasn't paying attention. Other than that, despite the honeymoon being long over, it makes me glad that I still believe in Netflix's movie department. Oh, and I still believe in the south. It’s the greatest part of the U.S. Trust me.
Maybe Crow was right in the Squirm episode of MST3K: you should "never go to the south for any reason" (I live in the south, so I can make that joke...right)? Anyway, this is another thriller from Jeremy Saulnier that justifies keeping a Netflix subscription. So, you may be asking yourself, "who is Aaron Pierre?" By doing so, you have revealed the movie's secret weapon. A main reason why this movie is so intense is the complete uncertainty regarding what the actor and his character, Terry, are capable of, which it always pays off and not just in the action scenes. Speaking of, while there is not a huge amount of action, this is one instance where less is actually more. Besides, you'll likely not mind because so much sweet, sweet tension buildup precedes every scene. While Pierre deserves credit for this, there's also how the movie reminds you how much cringe is inherent in the misuse of power. Are the cops in Shelby Springs led by Don Johnson’s deliciously smug Chief Burnne reaping benefits of the trap that poor Terry fell into? Sure, but to make things even more interesting and true to life, sadly, it's a trap they've set out of necessity more than choice. I also love how sympathetic and quietly strong AnnaSophia Robb is as Terry's ally in the town, James Cromwell's work as a crooked judge, and again, as a resident of the south, I love how you can always feel the heat.
Every Jeremy Saulnier movie I have seen is smart, keeps me on edge, and most importantly, reminds me why I love action thrillers. This applies to this one as well, which may be his best yet. He clearly did his research of municipal law while crafting this, which is a good thing, but if I have any complaints, the details of the town’s scheme are a tad convoluted. I had to pause and research a plot summary to confirm I fully understood it and it's not like I wasn't paying attention. Other than that, despite the honeymoon being long over, it makes me glad that I still believe in Netflix's movie department. Oh, and I still believe in the south. It’s the greatest part of the U.S. Trust me.