THEIR LAWS. HIS RULES.

Former Marine Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre) is rammed by a couple of small-town cops who seize the $36,000 in cash that he’s carrying, needed to bail out his cousin; soon, he’s at war with the whole police department.

Shades of First Blood (1982) in this tough action-thriller that sets up an exciting cat-and-mouse game between Pierre and Don Johnson (who are both terrific in their roles). Long, and a bit sluggish at times, but holds one’s attention.

It’s also surprisingly smart, credible and relevant in its depiction of a corrupt system and the needless, dangerous militarization of the police. 

2024-U.S. VOD. 131 min. Color. Widescreen. Written, directed and edited by Jeremy Saulnier. Cast: Aaron Pierre (Terry Richmond), Don Johnson (Sandy Burnne), AnnaSophia Robb (Summer McBride), David Denman, Emory Cohen, Steve Zissis, James Cromwell.

Trivia: Co-executive produced by Macon Blair. John Boyega was first cast in the lead, but dropped out. 

Last word: “I wanted this to be a Southern film, just for the aesthetic. I loved Louisiana, I loved the swamp, the lush nature. But this could happen in upstate New York, no problem. These are constitutional rights that are being denied, and it’s not nefarious intent, it’s just money. So people get squeezed. That’s when it gets interesting – not just saying, This group is evil, but Why is this happening?” (Saulnier, GQ)