---
title: "Rebel Ridge"
year: 2024
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/rebel-ridge"
fi1m_id: "rebel-ridge"
imdb_id: "tt11301886"
tmdb_id: 646097
wikidata_id: "Q96334877"
fi1m_score: 75
critics_score: 72
critics_reviews: 18
published: "2026-09-30T22:33:36.930173+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-30T22:33:46.527597+00:00"
region: "EC"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Rebel Ridge (2024)

Directed by Jeremy Saulnier · 2h 11m · Crime, Action, Thriller, Drama

## Identity

Rebel Ridge

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/rebel-ridge
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** rebel-ridge
- **IMDb ID:** tt11301886
- **TMDB ID:** 646097
- **Wikidata ID:** Q96334877
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11301886/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/646097, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q96334877

**Fi1m score: 75** · Critics 72 from 18 reviews

*In a sentence:* A large, polite man asks for his money back and a whole town spends two hours regretting that it said no

> Jeremy Saulnier’s small-town thriller is best when nobody raises their voice, and Aaron Pierre never does. The first hour is as tight as anything Saulnier has made; the second sits down to explain the plot, and some of the tension goes with it.

## Synopsis

Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre) cycles into a small Southern town carrying a bag of cash to post bail for his cousin Mike Simmons (C.J. LeBlanc). Two local officers, Evan Marston (David Denman) and Steve Lann (Emory Cohen), knock him off his bicycle, search the bag and seize the money under a civil forfeiture law, handing him a receipt and no charge. At the courthouse, clerk Summer McBride (AnnaSophia Robb) explains how the town’s bail and forfeiture system works and how little time he has. Terry takes his case, calmly, to Chief Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson) at the police station, where the chief offers him a fraction of the money back and a warning.

## Review

Jeremy Saulnier has built his new thriller on an old template. A stranger comes to a small town, the local police take something from him, he asks for it back, and they should have given it to him. Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre) cycles into town with a bag of cash to post bail for his cousin Mike Simmons (C.J. LeBlanc). Two officers, Marston (David Denman) and Lann (Emory Cohen), knock him off his bike, find the money and keep it under a civil forfeiture law that lets them take cash without charging anybody. Terry wants it back, and he does not have long. It is a clean setup, and for about an hour Saulnier does almost nothing wrong with it.

The film belongs to Pierre. He plays Terry as a man who decided, well before we meet him, that raising his voice is a thing that gets men like him killed, so he never does. He says “sir”. He asks for receipts. He stands at the front desk of the police station, hands where everyone can see them, and explains what he needs, and the officers behind the counter slowly realise that the large calm man in the lobby is not going to leave. When he finally moves it is fast and over in seconds, and nobody dies. Pierre makes the waiting the action, and it is the best thing in the film.

David Gallego shoots the town in flat, humid daylight, so it looks ordinary and slightly sick. The police station, from production designers Ryan Warren Smith and John P. Goldsmith, is a low brick building with fluorescent light and a counter at reception, and Saulnier stages his best set piece in it without leaving the lobby. Brooke Blair and Will Blair score it with a low electronic pulse that sits under scenes rather than on top of them. Saulnier cuts the film himself and he cuts it slow, holding on faces in the seconds before something happens.

Don Johnson is Chief Sandy Burnne, and he plays him as a reasonable man, all drawl and patience, explaining to Terry why the law is on the department’s side and why a sensible man would take the deal. He is loathsome and he is never once loud, and Johnson plainly enjoys that. Denman’s Marston is the heavy, slow and sure of his own size. Cohen’s Lann is the jumpy one, and the film is smart about how the jumpy one is the dangerous one. AnnaSophia Robb plays Summer McBride, a clerk at the courthouse who has her own reasons to distrust the police and knows where the paperwork is kept, and her scenes with Pierre, reading statutes across a table, give the film its only warmth.

Here is what we felt. The roadside scene, in which the officers count Terry’s money in front of him and write him a receipt for taking it, made us angrier than any shoot-out could have, because everyone involved is so quiet and so certain they are allowed. And at the station, when Terry set his bag down, we sat forward on the sofa. We had been waiting forty minutes for him to move and Saulnier knew it.

Then the film sits down to explain itself. The second half is about where the town’s money goes, and it is laid out in dialogue, in offices and cars and living rooms, at length. Summer and Terry work through it like detectives in a procedural, and the film stops moving for long stretches while they do. It runs 131 minutes and there is a tighter 110 in it. The final confrontation is staged with care and Saulnier keeps the blood down, which we admire in principle and found a little airless in practice. We were never bored, but we were checking how much was left.

[*Blue Ruin*](https://film.one/film/blue-ruin) had one idea, a man with a knife and no plan, and followed it to the end. *Rebel Ridge* has a bigger one, about a system that robs people legally and counts on them not knowing the forms, and it is worth the time it spends teaching us. It carries a 15 and earns it without much blood. Watch it for Pierre, and forgive the last hour for talking.

*Fi1m score 75, published 30 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics like Rebel Ridge, and fourteen of the eighteen reviews are positive. The praise gathers almost entirely around two things. The first is Aaron Pierre’s lead performance, which nearly every review describes as commanding, restrained or magnetic, and which even the harshest notices single out. The second is Jeremy Saulnier’s patient building of tension, particularly in the opening stretch, with several critics calling the film a welcome return to his earlier, tauter genre work.

The reservations cluster in the second half. Several reviews find the film loses tension once the plot turns procedural, with legalistic dialogue and a predictable outcome blunting the action. The spread is wide. Slant finds the later stretch cold and short on catharsis, The New Yorker thinks the politics are reduced to genre spectacle, and The Hollywood Reporter and Variety both dismiss it as clichéd and formulaic. Even those two, though, have kind words for Pierre.

## Straight answers

**Is Rebel Ridge worth watching?**

*Rebel Ridge* is worth watching for anyone who likes a slow, quiet crime thriller, and we scored it 75. Aaron Pierre carries it as a calm man who never raises his voice, and the first hour is as tight as anything Jeremy Saulnier has made. The second hour explains the plot at length, and some of the tension goes with it.

**How long is Rebel Ridge, and what is it rated?**

*Rebel Ridge* runs 2h 11m. It is a crime and action film.

**Where can I watch Rebel Ridge in Ecuador?**

*Rebel Ridge* is streaming on Netflix in Ecuador. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Rebel Ridge, and is it suitable for children?**

*Rebel Ridge* carries a 15 in the UK and an R in the US, and it is not for children. The violence is brief and Saulnier keeps the blood down, but the film is tense throughout and its subject, police taking money from people under cover of law, is adult. Older teenagers who can sit through long quiet stretches will manage it.

**How does Rebel Ridge compare to Blue Ruin?**

*Rebel Ridge* is the bigger and slower film, and [*Blue Ruin*](https://film.one/film/blue-ruin) is the tighter one. The earlier film follows one frightened man with a knife and no plan to the end; the later one has a larger idea about a town robbing people legally, and spends its second half explaining it. Choose *Blue Ruin* for a lean revenge thriller, *Rebel Ridge* for Aaron Pierre and a story about a system.

**What should I watch after Rebel Ridge?**

After *Rebel Ridge*, try [*Blue Ruin*](https://film.one/film/blue-ruin) (2013, Fi1m 84): Saulnier’s breakthrough: one frightened man, one knife, and no plan whatsoever. Then [*In the Heat of the Night*](https://film.one/film/in-the-heat-of-the-night) (1967, Fi1m 85): A Black stranger, a Southern town and a police chief who would rather he left; and [*Hell or High Water*](https://film.one/film/hell-or-high-water) (2016, Fi1m 84): Another thriller where the real villain is a bank and the law is bent.

### Reviews we read (18)

- **The AV Club**, Jesse Hassenger (A-): Hassenger finds the film an elementally satisfying thriller that turns into a morally clear, Western-like story of resistance. He especially praises Aaron Pierre’s commanding performance and the humanity in the film’s small details. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/rebel-ridge-review)
- **The Guardian**, Benjamin Lee (90/100, inferred): Lee praises the film as an electrifying, unusually entertaining thriller that balances action with social drama. He particularly singles out Aaron Pierre’s compelling performance and the film’s clear, tense storytelling. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/sep/04/rebel-ridge-review-netflix)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Katie Walsh (85/100, inferred): Walsh finds the film a masterful, exhilarating action thriller that makes its critique of policing feel urgent. She especially praises Jeremy Saulnier’s control of pacing and visual movement, alongside Aaron Pierre’s commanding performance. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-09-05/netflix-rebel-ridge-review-asset-forfeiture)
- **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri (85/100, inferred): Ebiri calls the film a tightly made, intelligent and visceral slow-burn action thriller. He especially praises Jeremy Saulnier’s tension-building and choreography, while noting that some legalistic dialogue bogs down the conspiracy plot. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-rebel-ridge-an-instant-slow-burn-action-classic.html)
- **IndieWire**, Daniel Joyaux (B+): The critic finds the film immensely satisfying and an explosively fun thriller, despite a minor lack of the sudden violence typical of Saulnier’s work. He praises Aaron Pierre’s magnetic, commanding performance and the film’s portrayal of police corruption. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/rebel-ridge-review-netflix-1235043517/)
- **Little White Lies**, Kambole Campbell (4/5): Campbell finds the film a sharp, memorable, and satisfying thriller about police corruption and systemic injustice. He particularly praises Aaron Pierre’s magnetic performance and Saulnier’s patient build-up of tension. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/rebel-ridge)
- **Empire**, James Dyer (75/100, inferred): The critic finds it a satisfying, substantial genre thriller despite uneven pacing and a predictable outcome. He singles out Aaron Pierre’s controlled performance and the film’s artfully staged, tension-filled confrontations. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/rebel-ridge/)
- **Slant Magazine**, Justin Clark (2.5/4): Clark finds the film tense and effective for much of its runtime, but says its second half becomes cold and overly procedural. He praises the opening’s carefully modulated tension and the largely bloodless action, while faulting the film for withholding catharsis and avoiding directness about injustice. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/rebel-ridge-review-jeremy-saulnier/)
- **The New Yorker**, Richard Brody (45/100, inferred): Brody finds the film a satisfyingly plotted but ultimately superficial thriller, with its political drama reduced to genre spectacle. He praises its restrained performances and slow, carefully stylized pacing, which give the film a distinctive aesthetic. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/rebel-ridge-is-a-police-drama-with-a-difference)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Caryn James (30/100, inferred): James finds the thriller clichéd, overlong, and only barely watchable. She praises Aaron Pierre’s striking screen presence, though she says his performance cannot overcome the predictable events. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/rebel-ridge-review-jeremy-saulnier-netflix-1235983259/)
- **Variety**, Todd Gilchrist (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the film muscular and effective but ultimately predictable, with its formula weakening the action. Aaron Pierre’s restrained, coiled performance is praised for making Terry consistently sympathetic. [Read](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/rebel-ridge-review-jeremy-saulnier-aaron-pierre-1236131279/)
- **The Wrap**, William Bibbiani (95/100, inferred): The critic calls the film an exceptional, thrilling drama that is both intelligent and satisfying. They single out Saulnier’s suspenseful plotting and Aaron Pierre’s compelling, restrained lead performance. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/rebel-ridge-review-netflix-movie/)
- **The Ringer**, Adam Nayman (85/100, inferred): Nayman praises Rebel Ridge as an accomplished, crowd-pleasing return for Jeremy Saulnier. He especially singles out Aaron Pierre’s charismatic lead performance and Don Johnson’s entertainingly hateful villain. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2024/09/06/movies/rebel-ridge-movie-review-netflix)
- **Paste**, Dom Sinacola (8.1/10): Sinacola praises the film as a thrilling, satisfying return to Saulnier’s taut genre filmmaking. He singles out Aaron Pierre’s restrained, compelling presence and the suspenseful staging for praise. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/jeremy-saulnier/rebel-ridge-review)
- **/Film**, Chris Evangelista (8/10): The critic praises Rebel Ridge as a tense, engaging action thriller, though its payoff is less compelling than its buildup. Aaron Pierre’s magnetic, controlled performance is singled out as the film’s central strength. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1655990/rebel-ridge-review-netflix/)
- **The Playlist** (80/100, inferred): The headline presents the film as an intense, fierce thriller. It singles out Aaron Pierre’s performance as a showcase, though the page block prevents confirming the full review’s verdict. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/rebel-ridge-review-jeremy-saulniers-fierce-acab-thriller-is-an-intense-showcase-for-aaron-pierre-20240904/)
- **Film Stories**, Ryan Lambie (75/100, inferred): Lambie finds Rebel Ridge a memorable, highly effective thriller despite a less tense second half. He particularly praises Aaron Pierre’s nuanced, magnetic performance and Saulnier’s tension-building direction. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/rebel-ridge-review-the-director-of-green-room-draws-first-blood/)
- **Collider**, Chase Hutchinson (7/10): Hutchinson calls the film a lean, entertaining action thriller, though not as strong as Saulnier’s earlier work. He praises Aaron Pierre’s charismatic, emotionally grounded performance and the film’s forceful action, while noting that exposition and a late reveal weaken it. [Read](https://collider.com/rebel-ridge-review/)

## Details

- **Director:** Jeremy Saulnier
- **Director:** Jeremy Saulnier
- **Writer:** Jeremy Saulnier
- **Cinematography:** David Gallego
- **Editor:** Jeremy Saulnier
- **Music:** Brooke Blair, Will Blair
- **Production design:** John P. Goldsmith, Ryan Warren Smith
- **Costume design:** Amanda Ford
- **Producer:** Jeremy Saulnier, Vincent Savino, Anish Savjani
- **Cast:** Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond; Don Johnson as Chief Sandy Burnne; AnnaSophia Robb as Summer McBride; Emory Cohen as Officer Steve Lann; David Denman as Officer Evan Marston; Oscar Gale as Skinny Guard; Steve Zissis as Elliot; Daniel Chung as Ken
- **Runtime:** 2h 11m
- **Release (Ecuador):** 6 September 2024
- **Genres:** Crime, Action, Thriller, Drama
- **Budget:** $29 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF3gZicntIw

## Where to watch in Ecuador

- Netflix: streaming

*Checked 2026-09-30.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Blue Ruin* (2013), Fi1m 84: Saulnier’s breakthrough: one frightened man, one knife, and no plan whatsoever — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/blue-ruin.md)
- *First Blood* (1982): The template Rebel Ridge is quietly rewriting, with more blood and less paperwork
- *In the Heat of the Night* (1967), Fi1m 85: A Black stranger, a Southern town and a police chief who would rather he left — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/in-the-heat-of-the-night.md)
- *Hell or High Water* (2016), Fi1m 84: Another thriller where the real villain is a bank and the law is bent — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/hell-or-high-water.md)
- *The Raid* (2011), Fi1m 83: For anyone who wanted Terry to keep fighting: one building, no restraint at all — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-raid.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/rebel-ridge