The Rip, Netflix’s new crime/action thriller, knows exactly what it is, and that’s a good thing. Filmmaker Joe Carnahan directs this taut and tense thriller that provides an enjoyable film for the start of the new year. The story from Carnahan and Michael McGrale, which is inspired by true events, follows the members of a Miami-based tactical narcotics team investigating a tip about a large sum of money in a house. What transpires is a night of distrust and suspicion, as motivations are called into question and the team learns they might not all be on the same side.
Carnahan’s script is tight and lean, which is helpful for a movie that aims to intrigue audiences and draw them in. The film is roughly an hour and forty five minutes, with a setting that’s mostly confined to the house where the money is stored. This means, as an audience member, you never feel the runtime is padded with unnecessary scenes. You’re locked into the tactical narcotics team, and how they’re dealing with the money they found. As the levels of trust zig and zag amongst the team, the story does a good job at playing a shell game with audience expectations. Just when you think you’re ahead of the characters, it goes in a slightly different direction, which makes it a fun watch.
The Rip’s story construction doesn’t leave room for a lot of deep characterization, but it makes up for it with a stacked cast that can find moments in the script to make their characters pop. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are not only the stars of this movie, but their movie studio, Artists Equity, produced the film. From Good Will Hunting to Air to their off-screen friendship, the two actors have always had amazing chemistry, and The Rip is no exception. In their first scene together as Lt. Dane Dumars (Damon) and Det. Sgt. J.D. Byrne (Affleck), you immediately buy that these two have known each other for a long time. This makes for a compelling dynamic as the team member’s trust towards one another fluctuates throughout the story, and their bond is tested.
Teyana Taylor (recent Golden Globe winner!) doesn’t have a lot of screen time as Detective Numa Baptiste, one of the members of the tactical narcotics team, but she always has a delightful presence as an actress. Sasha Calle (The Flash) also has a good screen presence in this movie as Desi – a woman living in the house where the money is found. This could have been a character that was thrown to the side once the tactical narcotics team shows up, but Calle imbues her character with a lived-n quality. Carnahan’s script also gives the actress a couple of nice scenes with Affleck and Damon, which helps the audience be able to invest in Desi.
The Rip is a fun action/crime thriller to start 2026 with. The script is lean, and with its story of uncertain trust, you’ll be engaged the whole way through. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are one of cinema’s best on screen duos, and Carnahan continues their winning streak with this movie.
The Rip will stream on Netflix starting Friday, January 16th.
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