Manuel São Bento
1/16/2026
Full review: https://movieswetextedabout.com/the-rip-movie-review-matt-damon-and-ben-affleck-shine-in-a-twisty-thriller-that-surpasses-expectations/
Rating: B
"The Rip reveals itself to be an intriguing surprise that swaps easy pyrotechnics for psychological tension, leaning on the undeniable charisma of the Matt Damon and Ben Affleck duo and a steady direction by Joe Carnahan that values spatial containment. Despite a lack of deeper secondary character development, the film stands out for the honesty with which it treats its themes and its refusal to betray the logic of its protagonists in favor of mindless spectacle. It’s a raw portrait of the fragility of human bonds when faced with absolute temptation that doesn’t deserve to go unnoticed."
"The RIP" harks back to earlier 80's and 90's style cop crime thrillers but ultimately, feels more like a fascimile, than an original work, in its own right.
To be fair, perhaps the biggest problem with this genre, in general, is its become its own cliche. Hard drinking, sweary, hairy, violent cop tough guy, sterotypes, who drive souped up cars and are smarter than first appearances, would suggest.
The RIP leans heavily into this cliche, with predictable outcomes. About half way through, I'd worked out who was doing what and why. Its not because I'm especially clever, its because I've seen this all before in one form or another. Yet, the film still includes a reveal that explain's everything, that's supposed, I'm assuming, to come as a revelation to the audience.
Performances from well known faces are alright but hardly add a lot in the way of gravitas, to what is, only a moderately entertaining action, "who dunnit", thriller.
In summary, Hollywood needs new material.You can't expect endless repitition to equal boundless success. In short, an okay watch but does nothing to distinguish itself.
