Jericho Ridge is available in the U.S. on BET+. The film opens in the UK in theaters on April 25, and on digital April 29 from The Movie Partnership.
I found myself woken up pretty fast by Will Gilbey’s writing/directing debut, Jericho Ridge. Interestingly, it had nothing to do immediately with the narrative and plot.
Instead, what ensues from the top is an introduction of the tumult faced by Tabby (Nikki Amuka-Bird), a former Chief Deputy at a remote Sheriff’s office who has since been demoted to working dispatch for reasons not immediately made clear. She has a bum ankle, which is about similar in condition to the fractured relationship she has with her troubled son, Monty (Zack Morris).
The rift is made even clearer within the first five minutes of the film as Monty has no choice but to join his mother on their trip to her day job, no matter the gripe or disinterest. Also on display is the mild chaos already ensuing at the office with an alcoholic detainee named Earl (Michael Socha), and a recent break-in into the office’s evidence locker, minus missing weapons and bribe money.
Adding to the upheaval is a tip two days into a murder investigation, followed by what should have been a simple locksmith hire. Topped off with an even more explosive development, the plot thickens and sooner commences a body count that threatens to add Tabby to the number.
As the sheriff’s office falls under siege from two heavily-armed gunmen trying to break in from both ends of the building, Tabby is outmanned and outgunned herself. Point in fact, all she has at her disposal from the start is her Chief Deputy’s revolver and non-compatible bullets that barely fit in the barrel, on the off chance that she can get a few shots off without injuring herself.
Par for the course is how things begin to unravel for Monty as he’s soon compelled to take responsibility or what’s happened, even if though he doesn’t immediately know all the facts. It’s a tangible and fitting development between the mother and son roles that brings a gradual balance to Monty’s character arc following his more grating entry during the film’s mildly wild opener.
The unfolding intrigue in Jericho Ridge contributes an intensity to the story that pulls you in. The action also escalates even further throughout the film’s runtime. Crackling gun battles, apt cinematography and keen stunt coordination are a plus here with Amuka-Bird holding her own in fine form.
Jericho Ridge surprised me in a lot of ways on a creative level. I was also amazed by the film’s British production framework, which speaks positives aplenty about the casts’ performances.
A family in crisis, an open-ended murder plot, and one-against-many are what loads the palette for Gilbey’s feature debut. If you love seething, contained crime thrillers and family drama, and strong heroines standing against the odds, Jericho Ridge is a keeper.
