Hello, Peliplaters!
Have you gotten hooked on any movies on Netflix lately?
While Hit Man (2024) changed my perspective on the quality of Netflix's movies, Rebel Ridge has genuinely excited me about their future releases. Though it falls under the “Crime Action” genre, I hesitate to label it so simply. Despite its impressive action sequences, the film isn't just about visual thrills. The protagonist, Terry Richmond—a highly skilled retired marine—consistently shows restraint in using force. He won’t throw a punch to solve a problem if a debate will do, nor will he resort to firearms if his fists work. Even when guns are necessary, he tend to avoid using real bullets.
Isn't it remarkably daring for director Jeremy Saulnier to create an action movie hero who rejects violence? Terry's character boldly challenges audience expectations. Think about recent successful Crime Action franchises like Fast and Furious, Kingsman, or John Wick—aren't they all brimming with non-stop explosions and gunfire?
People love to see justice served, but this doesn't mean that it can only end up with bloody scenes.
I love action movies, but I must remain vigilant about the gory scenes that are commonplace in them. While villains certainly deserve punishment, the scenes of their violent execution can subconsciously mislead the audience, suggesting that only extreme violence can stop heinous criminals from harming society.
Although "an eye for an eye" is a popular moral standard worldwide, it's often difficult to measure the scope of harm inflicted accurately. If you punch me, I will lose a tooth, which I’ll be well aware of. But when I retaliate, my anger might make me lose control. You could lose more than one tooth, or none at all—both outcomes more likely than losing exactly one tooth.
Moreover, people tend to be pessimistic about the harm they suffer. Those who've had their wisdom teeth removed know that choosing a dentist is like choosing a life partner. You prolong conversations to test their patience and spend hours researching their background online. Even as you're being anesthetized, you cling to suspicions that they might harm rather than help you. In fact, you might only accept getting treatment from them after verifying relevant laws and compensation mechanisms.
Unlike planned procedures, daily conflicts often escalate suddenly. We lack time to rule out suspicions about others or ensure we're defending ourselves reasonably rather than overreacting. Consequently, seeking justice often backfires, creating new conflicts while trying to resolve old ones.
This is why, no matter how much I enjoy the John Wick series, I can only appreciate it rather than identify with it. It's entertaining, but I can't connect it to reality. Does this realization ruin my enjoyment? Not at all. It's precisely because I recognize its fictional nature that I can fully appreciate it. Similarly, my deep appreciation for John Wick allows me to truly value Rebel Ridge and its unique approach.
If John Wick had faced the unfair treatment suffered by Terry, he would have decimated the entire police station. Terry possesses combat skills on par with John Wick's and harbors just as much anger, yet he chooses a completely different path. While John would kill a person with a pencil in a second, Terry would disassemble a gun pointed at him just as swiftly. John's actions give me an adrenaline rush; Terry's actions, surprisingly, make me feel relaxed.
How can I describe this relaxation? Words fail me at the moment. After all, before this movie, associating "violence" with "relaxation" seemed inconceivable. Typically, action movies aim to satisfy the audience's desire for "venting anger," with relaxation only coming after all the villains have paid the price. Even then, that relief is fleeting—any director eyeing a sequel will hint in the post-credits scene that the crisis isn't truly over.
Some viewers disagree with Rebel Ridge's ending, expecting Terry to conclude matters more violently. Honestly, this might sadden any Crime Action filmmaker. Just as war-themed media are inherently anti-war, the purpose of Crime Action isn't to make the audience crave more violence.
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