Rebel Ridge is a Tense Exploration of Corruption and Power

Jeremy Saulnier’s Rebel Ridge may not have the explosive reputation of other action films, but it operates on a deeper level, reflecting the raw tensions that build within a corrupt system. The film  toys with the audience’s expectations—holding back the violence to let  them sit with the uncomfortable realities of power imbalances and societal failures. Released quietly on Netflix, Rebel Ridge feels like a topical watch and a hidden gem in the streaming service’s vast library.  

Saulnier’s works, namely in Green Room and Blue Ruin, have always been less about the action and more about  the careful buildup of tension that simmers beneath the surface. Rebel Ridge was not an exception to that. It’s a thriller that’s more interested in exploring the psyche of its protagonist. 

Aaron Pierre, in a standout performance, plays Terry Richmond, an ex-United States Marine Corps member caught in a cycle of abuse from law enforcement in a small town. His mission, to bail out his cousin and get him to safety, quickly spirals into a nightmare as the corrupt police force confiscates his money under the guise of civil asset forfeiture, leaving Terry powerless.

Saulnier masterfully sets up Rebel Ridge as more than just another revenge thriller. The film opens with Terry riding his bicycle into a rural Southern town, his calm demeanor and focused mission quickly interrupted by a brutal encounter with the local police. In many ways, the film echoes the themes of First Blood (1982), with its portrayal of a veteran being mistreated by the authorities.

However, where First Blood emphasized the alienation of Vietnam War veterans, Rebel Ridge shifts the focus to the pervasive corruption of law enforcement and the ways in which the system itself is designed to exploit and dehumanize.

From the moment Terry is knocked off his bike and his money is seized, Rebel Ridge establishes its central theme: powerlessness in the face of institutional corruption. The police, led by the eerily composed Sheriff Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson), treat Terry with contempt, confident in their ability to abuse the law for their own gain.

Terry’s frustration and anger build as he navigates this system, but instead of delivering immediate retribution, the film forces the audience to experience the same sense of helplessness that Terry does. This deliberate pacing heightens the tension, making every confrontation feel more explosive when it finally comes.

Where Rebel Ridge stands apart from its genre counterparts is in its refusal to glorify violence. Terry is not the typical action hero. While his military background makes him a formidable opponent, he chooses to incapacitate his enemies rather than kill them. Saulnier’s decision to emphasize non-lethal combat is a refreshing take on the revenge thriller formula. Terry uses the police’s own “less-lethal” weapons against them, turning their tools of control back on themselves. This creates a sense of poetic justice, as Terry refuses to play by their rules even as he seeks to dismantle the corrupt system.

Aaron Pierre’s performance as Terry is one of quiet intensity. He doesn’t need to deliver long, impassioned speeches to convey his frustration. Instead, his controlled expressions and physicality speak volumes.

Pierre’s Terry is a man who has been wronged but refuses to lose his humanity in the process. This restraint is what makes his eventual acts of retaliation so satisfying. That way, when Terry finally does take action, it feels earned. His motivations are not personal. It is not just about getting his money back or rescuing his cousin; it’s about reclaiming a sense of agency in a world that constantly tries to strip it away.

While Pierre’s performance is the emotional core of the film, the supporting cast also shines.

Don Johnson’s Sheriff Burnne is the perfect foil to Terry. He’s calm, calculated, and exudes a kind of casual cruelty that makes him all the more menacing. Johnson doesn’t need to play Burnne as overtly evil—his character’s indifference to the suffering he causes is enough to make him terrifying.

Emory Cohen’s performance as a corrupt officer further underscores the film’s critique of law enforcement, portraying a system that enables and even rewards those who abuse their power.

The film’s setting plays a crucial role in amplifying the themes of isolation and corruption. The rural Southern town where Rebel Ridge takes place feels almost claustrophobic.The place perfectly resembles small towns where law enforcement tends to operate with complete impunity, and there’s no escape from their reach. Saulnier uses the landscape to create a sense of entrapment, with wide-open spaces that paradoxically feel stifling. The town’s isolation mirrors Terry’s own sense of being trapped in a system that offers no way out.

One of the film’s strengths is its ability to balance intense action sequences with a thoughtful exploration of its themes. The action in Rebel Ridge is meticulously choreographed, focusing on hand-to-hand combat and disarming techniques rather than gunfights or explosions. This makes the action feel more grounded and personal, as Terry uses his skills to outmaneuver his enemies rather than overpower them. The fight scenes are visceral, but they’re also restrained. It, reflects Terry’s refusal to become the kind of person the system expects him to be.

However, there are certain drawbacks to Rebel Ridge. The film’s pacing, while deliberate, can feel sluggish at times, particularly in the second act. There are moments where the focus on legal discussions and procedural details bogs down the narrative, slowing the momentum that had been building. While these scenes are important in fleshing out the film’s critique of civil asset forfeiture and systemic corruption, they can feel like a distraction from the more immediate tension of Terry’s struggle. That said, the film’s final act delivers a satisfying payoff, as Terry’s quiet resistance finally erupts into action.

What makes Rebel Ridge truly stand out, though, is its unflinching examination of the American justice system. Unlike many films that depict corrupt cops as a few bad apples, Rebel Ridge goes further, presenting the entire system as complicit in the abuse of power.

It doesn’t matter if there are “good” cops; the system itself is designed to protect and perpetuate corruption. This is a bold statement, and one that few studio films are willing to make. In this sense, Rebel Ridge is unapologetically political, using its thriller framework to challenge the audience’s perceptions of law enforcement and justice.

As the film draws to a close, Terry’s journey feels less like a quest for revenge and more like a battle for survival in a system stacked against him. His refusal to play by the rules of the corrupt police force, even when it would be easier to do so, makes him a compelling and sympathetic protagonist.

Rebel Ridge is not just about one man’s fight against injustice—it’s a larger commentary on the ways in which power corrupts and how difficult it is to resist that corruption.

Rebel Ridge is a thoughtful, tense, and ultimately rewarding thriller that challenges its audience to think about the systems that govern our lives. Jeremy Saulnier’s direction, combined with Aaron Pierre’s powerful performance, creates a film that is as much about personal integrity as it is about institutional corruption. While the pacing may falter at times, the film’s message and execution make it a standout in the genre. Rebel Ridge is not just another revenge thriller—it’s a film with something important to say, and it says it with style and substance.