Netflix could have another major action thriller hit on their hands, as critics rave about director Jeremy Saulnier’s Rebel Ridge. The filmmaker is known for crafting critically acclaimed tales that delve into the darkness thanks to the likes of 2013’s revenge thriller Blue Ruin, the horror outing Green Room in 2015, and 2018’s action thriller Hold the Dark (which was also released by Netflix) and it sounds like Saulnier has reached these heights once again with Rebel Ridge.
The first reactions to Rebel Ridge have now started to emerge on social media, with IndieWire’s David Ehrlich heaping praise on Saulnier’s direction and lead star Aaron Pierre, who he calls “a major star in the making.”
“Rebel Ridge absolutely rules (Jeremy Saulnier’s best since Blue Ruin imho), Aaron Pierre is a *major* star in the making, and the people who denied this awesome movie a proper theatrical run should probably be arrested by the members of a corrupt southern police force.”
The praise continues courtesy of film writer Barry Hertz, who says the “long wait” for Saulnier’s next movie has been well worth it, with Rebel Ridge impressing on every level.
“REBEL RIDGE: The long wait for Saulnier’s latest was worth it. Rusty edges of GREEN ROOM and BLUE RUIN more polished here – the dialogue is where the pyrotechnics are. Aaron Pierre is brilliant casting, a slow boil in human form. And Don Johnson has perfected art of playing ACABs.”
Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture continues the admiration for the action thriller, calling the movie “an absolute powerhouse of muscular filmmaking” and commending Pierre for the way he “commands the screen.”
REBEL RIDGE is an absolute powerhouse of muscular filmmaking from Jeremy Saulnier. Aaron Pierre commands the screen as a cool as hell, one man wrecking machine. It may be overlong and peaks in its gripping first act, but there’s no denying how much it had me hooked from the opening scene and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.
Others have hailed Rebel Ridge as one of the year’s best, with writer and critic Jesse Hassenger saying, “So is REBEL RIDGE getting any kind of theatrical release? I’m good; I saw it in a screening room and, oh, btw it kicks ass! But other people should be able to see one of the year’s best movies on the big screen.” Brian Davids of THR adds, “Jeremy Saulnier’s ‘Rebel Ridge‘ is one of my favorite films of the year, and Aaron Pierre is a full-sized movie star.”
Aaron Pierre Is a True Movie Star in the Making
A lot of applause has been directed towards Aaron Pierre, who took over the lead role after Star Wars and Attack the Block star John Boyega suddenly walked away from the project back in 2021. Clearly, taking on the role was absolutely the right choice, and could now see Pierre’s star rise rapidly alongside his upcoming role in Disney’s tentpole December release, Mufasa: The Lion King. LA Times’ David Viramontes said of his performance in Rebel Ridge:
“I was floored by Jeremy Saulnier’s #RebelRidge. Aaron Pierre is captivating as an ex-marine taking on corrupt cops in a small town. He’s one of the smartest movie characters I’ve ever seen. The craft here is so precise, especially Saulnier’s blocking, which is sharp as a knife.”
Finally, Rebel Ridge gets the most captivating summary courtesy of X user @BrettRedacted, who calls the thriller a “civil asset forfeiture RAMBO.”
“REBEL RIDGE: If there’s a more satisfying movie released this year, I haven’t seen it. It’s civil asset forfeiture RAMBO, for fucks sakes! Pure adrenaline, heart-pounding stuff, couldn’t be more of a crowd pleaser so naturally it will debut on fucking Netflix.”
Written, produced, directed and edited by Jeremy Saulnier, Rebel Ridge stars Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, David Denman, Emory Cohen, Steve Zissis, Zsane Jhe, Dana Lee, and James Cromwell. You can check out the official synopsis below.
“Terry Richmond enters the town of Shelby Springs on a simple but urgent mission– post bail for his cousin and save him from imminent danger. But when Terry’s life’s savings is unjustly seized by law-enforcement, he’s forced to go head to head with local police chief Sandy Burnne and his combat-ready officers. Terry finds an unlikely ally in court clerk Summer McBride and the two become ensnared in a deep-rooted conspiracy within the remote township. As the stakes turn deadly, Terry must call upon his mysterious background to break the department’s hold on the community, bring justice to his own family– and protect Summer in the process.”
Rebel Ridge
is scheduled to be released by Netflix on September 6, 2024.
