Netflix’s January releases so far have been one murder mystery after another. Not that they haven’t been entertaining, but the trailer for its latest action thriller, The Rip, offered more than a promise of something different, but more exciting. It is as good as it looks, theatre-worthy action. Written and directed by Joe Carnahan, this piece, inspired by true-life events, tells the story of Lieutenant Dane (Matt Damon) and his elite Miami task force whose job is to ¨rip¨ illegal cash stashed by criminals based on tip-offs. Only this time, a police captain is dead, and there are suspicions of corrupt cops who are stealing this cash for themselves. The Rip is a story about morality and choices. When everything about life is wrong, making more wrong choices is never the solution.
Premise
The Rip opens with the murder of police Captain Jackie, who, before she dies, desperately ensures she passes off a tip for an address expected to have loads of cash hidden in it. Following her death, there’s an investigation led by the FBI, interrogating her team, who are not happy they are considered suspects. Now, team leader Lieutenant Dane has to get on with it. He has a tip for a stash house with cash of about $250k, or is it $150k, or maybe $300k; no one really knows for sure.
Sergeant J.D., Mike Ro, Numa and Lolo Salazar all head out to the location along with a money sniffing dog. At the suspected house is Desi, a young girl who claims it’s her grandma’s house and has no knowledge of anything untoward in the house. The team go in, and the dog quickly sniffs out the cash hidden right up in the attic, and it’s a whole lot more money than they thought. It’s $20million!!.
Dane begins to act funny; he has refused to call it in, and JD isn’t having it. A mysterious caller to the address has also called, giving them 30 minutes to take what they want and leave the house.
With rumours of cops stealing rips, it becomes clear that the mission isn’t as straightforward as the crew thought. Fist fights ensue, gun fights follow, and the result is the unmasking of the killers of Captain Jackie and the corrupt cops behind it all.
Cast and Performances
The Rip delivers a sharp plot twist, matched only by a stellar cast led by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as Sergeant J.D. The subtle bromance and eventual moral and physical conflict between their characters added to the intensity of the movie. I can’t imagine a better duo.
In supporting role is Teyana Taylor as Detective Numa, Catalina Moreno as Detective Lolo Salazar, Steven Yeun as Detective Mike Ro and Kyle Chandler as DEA Agent Mateo. The casts were very solid, leaning into a plot that completely throws you off, as you keep guessing who the dirty cop is here.
The action is kept alive by this crew with real urgency, gunfights and car chases. This isn’t unfamiliar territory for the leads of The Bourne Identity and The Accountant, but I was disappointed to not see any action from the female crew.
Some of the cast members are given backstories, such as Lieutenant Dane with his troubled divorce and late son, and J.D.’s relationship with the murdered Captain Jackie. It’s a bit subtle, but it gives the movie some heart and the cast a motive.
Highlight
The trailer for The Rip promises action, and it delivers on that promise. From the opening moments, the tension feels lived-in, and the stakes are clear. For a film that runs close to two hours, it never drags or loses momentum. The pacing is tight, constantly nudging you to wonder what comes next, and that’s good suspense at work.
At some point, characters you first assume are the antagonists start to feel like the protagonists, and I was genuinely impressed by how convincingly the film executed this switch. It’s the kind of story that rewards attention; miss a line of dialogue, and you might find yourself rewinding—thankfully, it’s Netflix and not the cinema.
Joe Carnahan’s direction shines in the action sequences. The gunfights feel real, with scene vibrations during automatic rifle fire that add an extra layer of thrill and make the moments hit harder. The suspense builds steadily, and the eventual reveal lands.
The character design also deserves praise, especially Matt Damon’s. The grey hair and beard do more than change his look; they reflect a man shaped by experience and emotional strain. It’s a version of Damon that feels different and quietly compelling.
Drawbacks
As I mentioned earlier, the film seriously underutilises its female characters. Most of the time, they spend their scenes counting money or babysitting, a huge missed opportunity—especially with a multitalented Golden Globe winner like Teyana Taylor in the cast.
Now, for a movie that runs close to two hours, The Rip somehow feels short. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it did leave me wanting more. Maybe more within the structure of the plot, or in the third act. You might say I’m being a bit selfish, but the ending dragged strangely. After the chaos of the night before, that long, emotional beach scene with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in the early hours just felt off to me.
That time could have gone to more action scenes or, even better, giving the female characters more to do. And yes, I’ll admit it—I’m still obsessed with Teyana Taylor.
Final Thoughts
Joe Carnahan, the director responsible for movies like The A-Team (2010), Boss Level (2020), and Shadow Force (2025), has shown remarkable consistency in the action genre. The rip is one such improvement, especially when compared to Shadow Force. While the trailer hypes a bit more than the final film delivers, the experience itself remains engaging and well put together.
A small side note that stood out to me: early in the film, Matt Damon has what feels like a monologue about how much he ¨hates being a cop¨. Strangely enough, it almost played like a self-commentary —less about the character and more like Damon reflecting on his own career choices. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but it interestingly caught my attention.
All things considered, The Rip is a solid watch, and if nothing else, it leaves me curious to see what Matt Damon chooses to do next.
Rating
4/5
Did The Rip live up to the tension and promises set by its trailer, or did it leave you wanting just a little more once the credits rolled?
Author
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