The Rip, 2026

Review of the film “The Rip”: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in a gritty action thriller

Joe Carnahan celebrates male friendship.

Sometimes relationships with neighbors can be fateful. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck lived in the same neighborhood, where they met and bonded over their shared interest in baseball and acting, and have been inseparable ever since. After the Oscar-winning Good Will Hunting and the cult classic Dogma, the duo practically never shared the screen. The second wave came in the 2020s — first in The Last Duel, then in the sports biopic Air. Since both actors regularly produce their own and other people's films, there is a noticeable trend towards genre diversity. This continues with The Good Fight, a run-of-the-mill Netflix action thriller about a lack of trust. In the hands of the actors and craftsman director Joe Carnahan (Smokin' Aces, The Raid), the film acquires the necessary scope, creative excitement, and nostalgic overtones.

In Miami, Jackie Velez (Lina Esco), the head of the local drug enforcement task force, is killed while on a mission. Her subordinates, including Lieutenant Dumas (Damon) and Sergeant Byrne (Affleck), try to recover from their loss, stand up to the inquisitive FBI agents, and find those responsible. After some time, following a tip from knowledgeable sources, Dumars is informed of a suburban hideout where a modest sum of several hundred thousand dollars is being stored illegally. Upon arrival, the team discovers that more than $20 million is hidden within the walls of the house. The girl who meets the heroes, Desi (Sasha Calle), is visibly distressed and begs them to take the money and leave immediately before things get worse. Should they agree or report it to their superiors? Is there a mole among the operatives, who is also responsible for Jackie's death? Why is it suspiciously quiet and deserted around the hideout? Very soon, the mission turns into a game of survival.

Carnahan has not made much of an impression in the industry over the past ten years. The creator of noisy ensemble Hollywood films (after The A-Team, The A-Team was also a hit) retired to television, reverted to self-repetition and predictable plots (The Good, the Bad, the Cop, The Survivor), occasionally redeeming himself (Chicken Run). . “The Good, the Bad, the Cop” may serve as a reminder of his former drive, directing his creative energy in the right direction. Discerning viewers will have no trouble identifying the main references: from Michael Mann's projects (Heat with Pacino and De Niro, Miami Vice) to John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13, Sidney Lumet's Serpico, and dozens of similar stories. At times, Agatha Christie's work and Ryan Johnson's Knives Out trilogy shine through in the drama. Carnahan uses familiar genre tropes: corrupt cops, Colombian cartels, literal and metaphorical ambushes, and attacks from invisible enemies. Trust rapidly evaporates, which noticeably frustrates and psychologically attacks the operatives standing behind each other. After Velez's death, Dumars takes control of the team, which does not suit Byrne, who had an affair with the deceased. The rest of the team (Steven Yeun, Tayanna Taylor, Catalina Sandino Moreno) are confused: arriving for a routine search with a cute beagle sniffer dog, they hardly expected such a sinister outcome. The situation is exacerbated by the personal tragedy of Dumars, whose son recently died of cancer. It is impossible to immerse oneself in work, as everything that is happening is reminiscent of death.

" The Rop " is made angrily, roughly, confidently. It's time to die, there's no time to consider artistic value. However, this aesthetic roughness is surprisingly invigorating and captivating. Compared to other Netflix action flicks, this one is clearly made with an eye on scale and theatrical release. The tension builds up until the final denouement. Of course, recognizable, clearly coordinated, sequentially unfolding twists are inevitable (the villain is always nearby, not difficult to figure out). Thanks to their charisma, personal charm, and years of hard work, Damon and Affleck transform a mediocre B-movie into a powerful statement about the strength of solidarity, albeit with a brutal twist. All enemies will inevitably be defeated, and the reconciled friends will sit on the beach and watch the sun go down. The world may suffer, cinema may experience another death, but something will remain eternal. For example, two Boston guys who made their dream come true. “Are we good guys?” reads the slogan and tattoo on Dumars' arm. “We were, we are, and we will be,” replies the film.

You can watch "The Rip" at NETFLIX

This article was sponsored by Ralph Smathers