My Cultural Diet

No offense to John Boyega, but I’m glad he dropped out of Rebel Ridge, thus paving the way for Aaron Pierre’s breakout performance. With his piercing gaze and statuesque features, Pierre dominates the screen as a former Marine who’s robbed by some corrupt cops (who are led by a delightfully slimy Don Johnson) as he passes through their small southern town. Unfortunately for them, he possesses a very particular set of skills, which he quickly puts to good use exposing and dismantling their operation. Rebel Ridge’s roots lie in ’70s exploitation films, only updated for modern sensibilities in a way that sacrifices little grit or intensity. Clocking in at just over two hours, the slow-burning film can feel a bit too long. At the same time, I love how writer/director Jeremy Saulnier allows his film to breathe, offering up beautifully designed shots that turn something as simple as two vehicles driving away from each other on a rural highway into riveting cinema, and letting his scenes slowly unfold to ratchet up the tension. Which, of course, makes our hero’s eventual smackdown all the more satisfying.

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