With shades of First Blood, Rebel Ridge makes a star out of Aaron Pierre…..

From the beginning you’ll be forgiven for thinking that Green Room’s Jeremy Saulnier is putting his own spin on the John Rambo story. We start with Richmond (Pierre) on his bike with £36 grand in his back pack, money to bail out his cousin from the local jail, only for him to be rammed off his back by a patrol car whose officers seize the opportunity to harass Richmond, and then confiscate the money and basically tell him there is nothing he can do about it.

Refusing to back down, he goes looking for some legal advice in the nearby town and befriending local clerk Summer McBride (AnnaSophia Robb), where he discovers corruption is rife among the authority and despite trying to find some compromise with local Police Chief Burnne ( a menacing Don Johnson), he find his options limited and his patience beginning to wear, just as the tension between all involved begins to rise. We just know that there is something hidden and ready to crack within Richmond and Pierre carries this picture with a screen presence not seen for a long time, believe me, this guy has the potential to be a huge action star.

But to call Rebel Ridge an action piece is wrong! There is something smart about this Western stand off in which Richmond only using his fists when required, instead trying to do the right thing and not antagonise the situation further. This may frustrate those wanting a WALKING TALL kind of caper and while the climax satisfies in terms of all guns blazing, there are more scenes of “lets talk” than there is of ” Kiss, Kiss Bang Bang”, but in a weird way, it makes it the journey towards the climax all the more worth it.

This is a downright dirty, realistic approach to action fare as Saulnier who delivered the fan favourite thriller GREEN ROOM, delivers another impressive entry onto his CV and with the commanding Pierre at centre stage, you can not help but be on his side throughout…..

Rating: ★★★★☆

REBEL RIDGE IS NOW AVAILIABLE ON NETFLIX