Rebel Ridge’s Unexpectedly Non-Violent Ending, Explained By Jeremy Saulnier

As a seasoned viewer of gritty action-thrillers and a staunch advocate for justice, I found Jeremy Saulnier‘s ‘Rebel Ridge’ to be a breath of fresh air amidst the Hollywood centric action films. The film’s ending, while it may not satiate those craving for bloodshed as revenge, delivers a powerful message that resonates deeply with our current cultural climate.

Spoilers follow for Rebel Ridge, which premiered on Netflix on September 6.

In the climax of Jeremy Saulnier’s film “Rebel Ridge,” the pace is set by protagonist Terry Richmond’s (Aaron Pierre) actions, which consistently defy what his adversaries assume he would do. Interestingly, this scene also goes against typical expectations for a filmmaker, providing an unexpected twist to viewers.

Terry deliberately avoids confronting the police from Shelby Springs at Rebel Ridge, a place known as a Confederate stronghold where Officer Lann (Emory Cohen) wants to exchange incriminating evidence. Instead, Terry targets the police station that holds stolen goods, threatening their valuable funds rather than upholding their duty to the public. When Chief Burnne orders his officers to “shoot that man,” Terry is expected to retaliate. This might be because he’s a Black man, or a Marine, or because they’ve pushed him too far by killing his cousin, framing him, and injecting his friend Summer (AnnaSophia Robb) with heroin twice. However, Terry refuses to give in to their demands or submit to a larger oppressive power. This makes him a protagonist similar to the characters created by filmmaker Saulnier.

Initially, upon watching “Rebel Ridge,” I found myself yearning for a different finale once I witnessed the depth of Shelby Springs’ corruption – the law enforcement’s misuse of civil asset forfeiture and their disrespect towards Terry’s concerns for his cousin Mike (C.J. LeBlanc). The indifference shown by government officials like clerks and judges as they watched the police trample on people’s Constitutional rights, only to enjoy perks such as Christmas lights in December, fireworks on the Fourth of July, and a tax cut was disappointing. I hoped that Terry’s promise to “haunt” the police would be fulfilled literally; indeed, I wished for a glimpse of his Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training! However, when the last half-hour of the film showed Terry employing guerrilla tactics to confuse and disengage instead of provoking and intensifying the situation, I felt slightly unsatisfied.

After rewatching a few times, it becomes evident that the character Terry Richmond in Rebel Ridge aligns well with Saulnier’s typical protagonists who resort to destructive behavior only when driven to an extreme limit. In contrast to the high body counts seen in films like Blue Ruin (2013), Green Room (2015), and Hold the Dark (2018), where characters such as Dwight Evans, the Ain’t Rights band, Vernon Slone, and Cheeon take violent actions to avenge or defend themselves, Terry Richmond’s story also revolves around a protagonist who strives to avoid such catastrophic outcomes. These films may seem overly violent with their gore, but upon closer inspection, they present characters who are trying hard to prevent the downward spiral – and Terry Richmond’s strategy of de-escalation echoes this theme.

In the film Blue Ruin, Dwight proposes an end to the family feud if the Clelands stay away from his sister, but it’s only when they show eagerness for her harm that he carries out his ambush on them. Conversely, in Green Room, the Ain’t Rights repeatedly urge their captors to call the police, believing they would intervene; however, once it’s clear the neo-Nazis have manipulated the local officers into leaving, the band members resort to fighting back. Lastly, in Hold the Dark, Cheeon meticulously attacks police with armor-piercing bullets, yet he had already reached a desperate state before this point. He explains his actions by saying, “When we die, the past dies, and the past is dead anyway. But when children are killed, that’s different. When children are killed, the future perishes. And there’s no life without a future.

Similar to Dwight, Terry brings an end to the conflict in the movie’s final confrontation. Akin to The Ain’t Rights, he appeals to the notion of honest cops on the Shelby Springs force who could oppose Burnne and Lann for attacking Officer Marston (David Denman), who is exposed as a whistleblower against the unjust civil asset forfeiture scheme. Unlike Cheeon, Terry doesn’t seem to court death, but instead openly accuses the police of their failures in protecting and serving. Wearing Mike’s hospital bracelet during this climactic scene serves as a powerful symbol – a reminder of mortality transformed into an accusation against the police for their misdeeds.

Saulnier acknowledges that the movie’s ending might be challenging for certain viewers. Recognizing that state police could potentially take over their department if there was misconduct, the Shelby Springs police officers, including Chief Burnne, find themselves under suspicion. This leads them to assist Terry and the injured Marston and Summer, escorting them to a local hospital, even as state police are en route. Saulnier explains that any ending depicting Terry killing police officers would require his subsequent death for authenticity. He also suggests that the movie’s conclusion leaves room for multiple interpretations; one such interpretation is that Terry, despite not forgiving the cops, reacts to their aggression with his usual practicality: “He’s a good man and he understands there’s someone on their side. [At the same time], he has a human shield.” Another possible reading is that the police officers desert Chief Burnne out of a sense of self-preservation and cynicism, as they consider their own best interests in light of the state police investigation: “Regardless of any loyalty they may have, considering how this might end, how they need to report to the state police, at that moment it feels wrong.

In the movie “Rebel Ridge,” Saulnier points out that Terry’s mission isn’t about rectifying wrongs or upholding morality, but rather seeking justice and survival. This understanding is crucial to interpreting the film’s final scene where Terry, along with Marston and Summer, arrives at the hospital. As he carries Summer inside, the police who were escorting him move towards Marston without exchanging words. The police once again close ranks, isolating Terry, to whom they receive no acknowledgement or thanks from. In a moment reminiscent of a fixer, Terry extracts the data recorder and vital evidence to prosecute them for their initial attack on him and Marston. He stands in silence, processing what he has accomplished, as the movie doesn’t end with revenge violence like some might expect. Similar to another notable Netflix film, “Athena” (2022), “Rebel Ridge” underscores that the police culture, plagued by the failures of the force, is deserving of our mistrust. It also suggests that the system shields racist and bigoted officers, necessitating individual action against it. Though it may not be as radical as some viewers anticipate, “Rebel Ridge” still makes a bold statement for a mainstream action film in an era dominated by Hollywood.

2024-09-14 15:54

Rebel Ridge’s Unexpectedly Non-Violent Ending, Explained By Jeremy Saulnier

Read More

Minority Mindset