Quentin Tarantino Praises Netflix Thriller ‘The Rip’ as a Complete Package

Quentin Tarantino has been candid about his dissatisfaction with contemporary Hollywood films, yet one recent release has captured his admiration. In an interview with Sight & Sound magazine, the acclaimed director expressed his enthusiasm for Netflix’s crime thriller ‘The Rip’, describing it as one of the few new movies that fully engaged him from start to finish.

Directed by Joe Carnahan, ‘The Rip’ premiered on Netflix earlier this year. The film features Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as police officers who uncover corruption within the Miami-Dade Police Department while tracing millions of dollars linked to cartel money. The cast also includes Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, and Kyle Chandler.

While reflecting on the current cinematic landscape, Tarantino noted that he finds it increasingly challenging to enjoy most new releases. He mentioned that many modern films frustrate him due to weak storytelling, unrealistic plot developments, poor casting, and a tendency to cater to audiences rather than deliver compelling narratives.

“Flaws, implausibilities, audience pandering, miscast performers or just plain stupid shit usually torpedoes every new movie coming out of the flavorless sausage factory that used to call itself Hollywood,” Tarantino remarked in Sight & Sound.

Despite his critiques, ‘The Rip’ distinguished itself from the rest. Tarantino noted that the film immediately captivated him and maintained his interest throughout.

“A suspenseful new movie has come out that did grab me and held me for its entire duration,” he stated.

The filmmaker commended nearly every aspect of the film, praising Joe Carnahan’s direction, the cast’s performances, and the visual style. He specifically highlighted cinematographer Juan Miguel Azpiroz for contributing to the film’s aesthetic.

Most notably, Tarantino was impressed by the screenplay penned by Joe Carnahan and Michael McGrale. He believes the script is what makes the film so effective.

“The film is an exciting cop thriller with a novel premise that manages to deliver the goods in really clever ways,” Tarantino noted. “The whole package worked for me: Carnahan’s direction, the splendid cast, the look of the film (courtesy of cinematographer Juan Miguel Azpiroz) – but the real powerhouse component of this splendid collection is the sensational screenplay by Carnahan and Michael McGrale.”

This level of praise is significant, as Tarantino seldom speaks so highly of recent films. In the same Sight & Sound article, he shared that he often finds it difficult to connect with modern movies and typically critiques them as he watches.

He also mentioned that even films he has enjoyed in recent years have not completely replicated the feelings he once experienced while watching cinema.

“I’ve seen movies I liked since then – ‘West Side Story’ (2021); ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ Chapter 1 and 2 (both 2024), a few others, but nothing that really held me in its grip and swept me away to the magical land of enjoyment that I used to visit regularly and was the reason I loved movies above all other artforms. These days I’d rather read a book,” he expressed.

This makes his reaction to ‘The Rip’ even more noteworthy. At a time when Tarantino claims to be increasingly disillusioned with Hollywood, the Netflix thriller succeeded where many recent films have faltered. Based on his comments in Sight & Sound, ‘The Rip’ provided the kind of engaging and entertaining experience he feels has become rare in modern cinema.

‘The Rip’ is currently available to stream on Netflix.

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