“Rebel Ridge,” produced, written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier, was released on Netflix on Sept. 6, as noted by IMDB. Viewers see the film following an ex-Marine who runs into trouble with the local law enforcement while he attempts to free his cousin from jail. Aaron Pierre plays the main character, Terry Richmond, and his character gets help from Summer McBride to fight against the main villain Chief Sandy Burnne. Throughout the film Terry is unsure who to trust and struggles to be able to complete many of the obstacles that come his way. While we see Terry accomplish some of his goals, the film concludes with an intense cliffhanger.
The cast is full of prominent actors, including Don Johnson, Anna Sophia Robb, David Denman, James Cromwell, Emory Cohen and Zsane Jhe. Johnson is a popular actor who won a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy for his performance in the TV series “Miami Vice,” and viewers may also recognize Denman from his role as Roy in the popular sitcom “The Office.” AnnaSophia Robb got her start as a child actor in popular movies such as “Soul Surfer,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Bridge to Terabithia" and her debut film “Because of Winn-Dixie.” Aaron Pierre, who plays Terry, is newer to the film scene, coming with experience in TV and limited series. Although he is newer in the acting business, viewers might recognize him from his leading role in the miniseries “The Underground Railroad.”
Personally, this fun action film was pleasant to watch and cleverly balanced important themes. I felt that the plot was made more interesting by the logical and realistic problem that the main character was facing. There were also no sci-fi or magical elements to the film, increasing its realism. This film quietly approaches the topic of addiction but primarily explores the corruption of law enforcement and racial injustice. I feel that viewers will easily root for Terry and hope that he accomplishes his mission. I will be on the lookout for new films starring Aaron Peirre, for his impressive acting chops and great accent.
By Kailey Wurr, A&E Editor
Graphic by Shae-Lynn Henderson, EIC
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