BOTTOM LINE

• Star-powered and thoroughly entertaining for action enthusiasts

PLATFORM

• Netflix

RUNTIME

• 1 hour 53 minutes

What Is the Film About?

Joe Carnahan delivers a hard-edged crime thriller in The Rip, reuniting Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as Miami narcotics officers Dane Dumars and J.D. Byrne. After their commanding officer is brutally killed, the department falls under federal investigation. Against this tense backdrop, Dumars leads a late-afternoon operation at a suburban residence, acting on an anonymous and suspicious tip.

What begins as a standard drug bust quickly shifts into a moral dilemma when the team uncovers 20 million dollars in cartel money concealed inside the house. Forced to remain on-site to inventory the cash, the officers find themselves consumed by suspicion, temptation, and fear. As greed tightens its grip, the situation spirals into a deadly confrontation involving cartel forces and shocking internal betrayals.

Performances

Ben Affleck finally steps out from beneath the shadow of his peers and delivers one of his most commanding performances in years. The last time he carried himself with this level of presence was during Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. While that film struggled overall, Affleck stood tall with a hardened, bruised, and brutally grounded portrayal of the iconic vigilante.

For much of the past decade, Affleck has often played secondary roles or served as a narrative tool rather than the emotional core. Here, from his very first scene, he demands attention and never loosens his grip. His take on a volatile, blunt, aggressive, slightly arrogant, and intimidating detective is one of the films biggest strengths. At the same time, his character operates with a strong moral compass, refusing to cross the line between justice and corruption.

Afflecks real-life bond with Matt Damon translates seamlessly on screen. Their long-standing friendship adds authenticity to every shared moment.

Damon, on the other hand, plays Dumars as composed, analytical, and visibly worn down. Beneath his calm exterior lies deep emotional damage, shaped by the loss of his son, a broken marriage, and crushing medical debt from treatments that ultimately failed. His restrained performance quietly carries immense emotional weight.

Analysis

If you are looking for a cinematic rush that feels like a caffeine hit mixed with pure adrenaline, The Rip should be high on your watchlist. While stories about corrupt or compromised cops are nothing new, this Damon and Affleck-led thriller does not try to reinvent the genre. Instead, it fine-tunes familiar elements into a sleek and fast-moving machine that knows exactly when to hit full throttle.

Carnahan wastes no time. From the opening moments, the tension escalates rapidly. Within the first ten minutes, Dumars and Byrne are drawn into a suburban home that proves to be a literal fortune hidden in plain sight.

The real brilliance is not just the massive stash of cash, but the suffocating psychological pressure that follows. The house itself feels alive, acting as a trap where moral choices collide with greed, cartel threats, and the haunting memory of a murdered leader.

One of the films greatest strengths is its pacing. It may not deliver jaw-dropping shock at every turn, but it keeps viewers firmly on edge, never allowing complacency to settle in.

The narrative structure is equally smart. By focusing heavily on the tedious act of counting money, the film grounds its high-stakes crime in a claustrophobic and sweaty reality. When violence erupts, it feels justified rather than excessive.

From a directorial standpoint, this may be the strongest work of Joe Carnahans career. His approach is gritty, raw, and relentlessly energetic. Tight close-ups capture every flicker of doubt, fear, and desperation etched across the actors faces.

The dialogue crackles with natural rhythm, driven by the unmistakable Damon-Affleck chemistry. Conversations feel authentic, occasionally humorous, and rooted in believable human behavior rather than exaggerated action-movie banter.

That said, the film is not without flaws. While the supporting cast is impressive, particularly Steven Yeun and Sasha Calle, the middle portion leans heavily into testosterone-driven storytelling. As a result, female characters fade into the background just when the plot gains momentum.

The third act raises the stakes dramatically. The confined tension of the suburban house gives way to the neon chaos of Miami streets, transforming the story into a relentless race against time. Once the action spills outdoors, the film becomes a full-blown adrenaline surge.

The final twist is handled effectively, even if many viewers will anticipate it early. A standout moment occurs inside an armored vehicle, where lighting, sound design, and strategic silence combine to deliver one of the films most powerful scenes.

The car chase deserves special mention. Carnahan understands vehicular chaos, emphasizing not just speed but the physical weight and desperation behind every collision. Parallel to this is a brutal hand-to-hand fight set in murky waters, captured with dark, unstable cinematography that heightens realism.

Is The Rip a crowd-pleaser? Without question. However, it does not rewrite the rulebook. Beneath its polish lies a familiar framework built from decades of gritty cop thrillers.

One of the more noticeable shortcomings is the underuse of female characters. Despite strong screen presence from Sasha Calle, Teyana Taylor, and Catalina Sandino Moreno, their roles shrink considerably in the latter half to make space for male-driven action and spectacle.

There are also moments where the film overexplains itself, relying on flashbacks to recap events from not long before. This slightly undercuts the confidence of the storytelling. Ultimately, The Rip feels like a well-made B-movie wrapped in A-list production value. It is more about the thrill of the journey than the final destination.

Still, the film delivers exactly what it promises. With Carnahan in control, audiences get intense pressure, sharp action, roaring engines, and plenty of gunfire. It stands above standard streaming releases and offers a loud, fast, and highly enjoyable experience.

Performances by Other Actors

Steven Yeun once again taps into his trademark approachable persona, using his sincerity to keep audiences guessing. Kyle Chandler leans into his familiar everyman charm before revealing a darker, greed-driven side.

It is worth jokingly asking why Yeuns face always seems to be a target on screen. The man deserves a break.

The film openly embraces a male-heavy energy, which explains why its female leads disappear for large portions of the runtime. Given the talent involved, including Calle, Taylor, and Moreno, their limited screen time feels like a missed opportunity. Even so, they make a strong impact whenever they appear.

Calle stands out by blending street-hardened distrust with the terrifying realization that she is far deeper into danger than expected. Taylor carries forward elements from her previous role in One Battle After Another, projecting confidence, control, and a sharp edge that contrasts well with the chaos around her.

Scott Adkins takes a welcome turn away from his usual martial arts roles. Playing Del Byrne, an FBI agent and the younger brother of J.D. Byrne, he delivers a grounded and intense performance. His interrogation scenes prove he can command attention with dialogue just as effectively as physical action. Yes, he can truly act.

Music and Other Departments

Clinton Shorters score maintains constant tension throughout the film. The music feels industrial and percussive, relying on deep bass tones that mirror a pounding heartbeat on the verge of collapse.

Sound design is particularly effective during scenes inside the stash house and the armored vehicle, amplifying the claustrophobic stress.

The pacing remains tight, with minimal time spent on unnecessary exposition. Handheld camerawork and rapid editing during action scenes enhance the sense of chaos. While some may find it dizzying, it avoids stylized choreography in favor of something raw, messy, and authentic.

Highlights

• Powerful performances by Affleck and Damon
• Outstanding on-screen chemistry
• Strong direction
• Engaging action sequences
• Effective music and sound design
• Tight pacing
• Solid supporting cast

Drawbacks

• Familiar storyline
• Underused female characters
• Predictable twist
• Occasional over-explanation