This Underrated Netflix Thriller Is Easily One of the Best Movies I've Seen This Year

Mark my words, Pierre is about to become a major action star. No offense to John Boyega, who was originally slated to play the main role, but Pierre was the perfect casting choice for Terry. He's got the steely expression, the piercing gaze, quick reflexes and impressive combat skills, but there are also glimpses of his humanity when he fights to rescue his cousin. I love that his character is level-headed and methodical as he sets out to get his revenge, and Pierre's honest portrayal takes me straight back to the stories of real Black men who've landed in tricky situations with the police.

Rebel Ridge is, in a nutshell, about a young Black veteran who's forced to confront deep corruption in a small town, so viewers are bound to see some overlap with real-life events. For instance, the opening scene shows Terry getting tackled and handcuffed by two white cops without getting charged, which instantly reminded me of George Floyd. Then, they take his money after suspecting that it's "drug currency"—better known as civil asset forfeiture.

Pierre told Entertainment Weekly, "Terry Richmond is a Black man experiencing the intensity and severity, and in this particular case, the injustice of civil asset forfeiture." FYI, in many states, this controversial legal process allows officers to take (and keep) large sums of money or property if they merely suspect that it's for illegal activity. And this can happen to anyone.

As for how the main characters respond to this injustice in the film, he adds, “It highlights our abilities as individuals to make a change. It highlights our ability as individuals to actively not be complicit and to make a choice."

Of course, I won't spoil the ending and reveal details, but I will say that the ending felt quite abrupt and caught me completely off-guard. If you're expecting a neat resolution or to have all your questions answered by the end, you definitely won't find that here. Rather, viewers are invited to draw their conclusions, based on that intense final sequence. I'll also note that the lingering uncertainty, in a sense, mirrors what I've seen with real-life cases. Though there might be a few glimmers of hope, a happy ending isn't always guaranteed.

Directed by Jeremy Saulnier, Rebel Ridge stars Don Johnson, David Denman, Emory Cohen, Steve Zissis, Zsané Jhé, Dana Lee and James Cromwell.

Rebel Ridge is a captivating, edge-of-your-seat crime thriller that thoughtfully explores police corruption and the injustice of civil forfeiture, but it's Aaron Pierre's unforgettable performance that takes this film to the next level. From intense stand-offs to car chases, viewers are sure to be entertained. And you can now stream the film on Netflix.

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