Rebel Ridge ★★★

ACTION thriller Rebel Ridge is a bit of a departure for writer/director Jeremy Saulnier.

The best known of his previous four films, 2013’s Blue Ruin and Green Room (2015), are hard-edged in look and execution and feature sudden scenes of strong violence.

Rebel Ridge is a slightly softer film, more interested in telling a story and focusing on its main character. The action scenes are well done but are constructed with a different purpose than is usual for this type of film. More on that later.

It seems the film was originally going to be a starring vehicle for John Boyega, off the back of his role in the last couple of Star Wars films.

But, for some reason, Boyega pulled the pin early into filming and was replaced by Aaron Pierre who may prove to be just as big a star in the long run.

Pierre brings a strong presence as well as acting chops to the role of Terry Richmond, a former Marine who comes into conflict with corrupt officials in a small Louisiana town.

On arriving in the town to help out his cousin, Richmond is harrassed by local law enforcement. The money he was bringing for his cousin’s bail is confiscated and, over time, Richmond uncovers a scheme, also involving the local court, enabling and protecting criminal activity by the police force.

Here’s where we return to the action sequences.

Like John Rambo in the original film in that franchise, First Blood, Hamilton is a gentle soul who doesn’t want to hurt anyone.

Trouble is the local Sherriff, played well by Don Johnson, and his officers keep pushing until Hamilton is forced to fight back.

But even then his expert ability in unarmed combat means he can take on the entire force while not trying to kill or permanently maim.

The film tends to get bogged down in plot detail so the action sequences, when they arrive, are welcome and we’ll staged.

However, overall I prefer the more hard-edged and bloodier Saulnier version.

Watched on Netflix.