After initially assuming that a new Netflix film could be Rambo and Jack Reacher's perfect movie replacement, I have come to realize that I was wrong. A few weeks ago, I came across a trailer for an upcoming Netflix movie, which caught my attention because of how familiar it seemed. Once I was done watching the trailer, I was almost convinced that the Netflix film would riff on the tropes and storytelling devices that have made action franchises like Rambo and Jack Reacher successful.

Since I have an undying appetite for shows and movies that revolve around overpowered protagonists like Jack Reacher and Rambo who single-handedly take down formidable adversaries, I was excited by the prospect of a new entry into this brand of action movies. However, when I finally watched the Netflix action movie, Rebel Ridge, I was surprised by how well it stood on its own despite adopting some familiar genre archetypes.