Rebel Ridge Ending Explained: Why was Mike killed?

In Netflix’s Rebel Ridge, a former Marine named Terry Richmond finds himself entangled in a web of corruption when he arrives in the small town of Shelby Springs. He comes to help his cousin Mike, who has been jailed for a minor offense, but the bail amount is unexpectedly high. As Terry scrambles to post the bail, his plans are thwarted when local police seize the money, suspecting it to be drug-related. This incident plunges Terry into a deeper crisis, as he must now navigate a corrupt system while urgently needing to secure the bail to help his cousin. His troubles are only beginning as he becomes increasingly trapped in the town’s dark underbelly.

Rebel Ridge Ending Explained

Terry infiltrates the police station and successfully restrains Sandy and another officer, retrieving his $10,000 while leaving behind the agreed $26,000. He then posts the bond, only to be tased and arrested moments later.

When Terry regains consciousness, Officer Evan (David Denman) drives him around with Sandy, who pretends to want to “de-escalate” the situation. However, Sandy’s intentions are far from benevolent; Terry learns that his cousin was stabbed in prison as a result of the police’s interference in his release.

Sandy presents Terry with two choices: take back all the money and accept a fully paid new truck, or face a minimum of 30 years in prison for his actions at the station. To avoid further trouble, Terry grudgingly accepts the first offer, despite his anger and frustration.

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Terry Ensures Justice With His Final Act

Burnne exploited legal loopholes to engage in illegal practices, using civil asset forfeiture to seize property under dubious pretenses. He and his officers would stop individuals and confiscate their money or belongings, knowing that the lengthy legal battle to contest these seizures would be too costly for most people. This allowed Burnne and his department to profit, further corrupting the system by involving local judges and exploiting municipal courts where defendants lacked legal representation.

In the climax, Summer and Terry uncover Burnne’s corruption by accessing footage from police dash cams. These recordings, retained for only 90 days before being erased, hold critical evidence against Burnne. After a failed attempt to secure the footage due to misplaced trust, Terry gets another chance when Officer Evan Marston advises him to use his own car’s dash cam, which captured Burnne shooting at it.

With Marston’s help, Terry manages a daring escape from Shelby Springs, carefully securing the incriminating footage. Once out of danger, Terry retrieves the DVR from his car and plans to deliver the evidence to a trustworthy official to ensure Burnne faces justice for his criminal actions.

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Is Chief Burnne Caught? Does He Go to Prison?

Had Chief Burnne been aware of Terry Richmond’s true capabilities, he might have approached the situation differently. Burnne’s attempt to reconcile with Terry is ultimately futile, as he underestimates Terry’s resolve to protect people like Summer McBride. It is the attack on Summer that sets off a series of events that Burnne might have avoided, allowing him to continue his corrupt activities unchecked.

As Terry obtains the hard drives containing damning dashcam footage, Burnne tries to ensnare him by using Summer as bait. Despite nearly succeeding, Terry’s plan falters when he mistakenly trusts Officer Simms to be Summer’s secret informant, Serpico. Although Simms is not directly complicit in Burnne’s corruption, she is an unwilling participant in his operations and is trying to stay out of trouble.

The final confrontation reveals the extent of Burnne’s ruthlessness when he shoots Officer Marston, indicating that even his own men are expendable. Simms, initially misguided, soon recognizes the gravity of the situation and assists Terry by helping Marston and clearing the way for Terry and Summer. Despite the sabotage, Burnne’s men are relentless, but Simms takes decisive action by crashing into their car, enabling Terry to escape.

In the concluding scene, Burnne, visibly wounded but not severely injured, is confronted by Simms, who demands his surrender. With Terry fleeing with the crucial footage and Marston ready to testify against Burnne, the evidence against him is overwhelming. Burnne faces a grim future, knowing that the footage and Marston’s testimony will expose his crimes and his stranglehold on the town, ensuring his downfall.

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What Happens to Summer and Officer Marston?

Terry Richmond could have easily walked away from Shelby Springs, never looking back, and it wouldn’t have impacted his life significantly. However, for individuals like Summer McBride and Officer Marston, the situation is far more personal and dire. They are deeply entrenched in the town’s struggles and face serious repercussions for their efforts to oppose Burnne’s corruption.

Officer Marston, though part of Burnne’s corrupt police force, is portrayed as someone with genuine empathy. He tries to mitigate the damage caused by Burnne’s ruthless actions, offering guidance to Terry and alerting Summer about Burnne’s plans. Marston’s compassion is evident in his attempts to protect Summer and his intervention when Lann attempts to shoot Terry, resulting in Marston being shot himself. His actions reveal his inner conflict and desire to do the right thing despite being part of a flawed system.

When Terry learns that Marston is the true Serpico Summer’s secret informant he realizes the depth of Marston’s commitment to protecting the town. In the ensuing confrontation, while Terry avoids injury, Marston sustains a gunshot wound to his thigh, a serious injury that threatens his life if not treated promptly. Similarly, Summer, who was drugged by Lann as a final act of sabotage, needs urgent medical attention due to her history with substance abuse.

With Marston’s assistance, Terry manages to administer first aid to Summer, but both require immediate medical care to address their injuries and ensure their survival. The stakes are high as Terry and Marston work to secure help and expose Burnne’s corruption, all while navigating the dangerous fallout from their fight against the corrupt system.

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Why was Mike killed?

When Terry first meets Summer (AnnaSophia Robb), he shares that his recent legal troubles are relatively minor compared to his past. He explains, “Before, out east, he got into some deep sh*t. Ended up a cooperating witness on a capital murder charge. The guy he helped put away was pretty high up in the gang. Terry warns Summer that if the individual he testified against is spotted, he’ll likely face severe consequences. He’s referring to his own experience with a dangerous gang, emphasizing the high stakes of his past involvement.

Terry’s agreement with Sandy was straightforward: he would keep the $26,000 but ensure Mike’s release before he could be transferred to a state prison. However, Terry arrives three minutes late, and it becomes apparent that Sandy never intended to honor the deal. During a subsequent drive with Sandy and Evan, they stop at a hospital. Sandy informs Terry, “Your cousin is being medevaced here as we speak. He’s coming from the infirmary… he was attacked just out of processing. When I talked to corrections, they said he was stabbed up pretty good.”

Later, Terry finds himself sitting beside Mike’s hospital bed, where he has to face the grim reality that Mike has succumbed to his injuries. This tragic turn of events deepens Terry’s resolve and highlights the severe consequences of the corruption he’s battling.

Who is Terry Richmond in Rebel Ridge?

The police of Shelby Springs quickly find themselves in over their heads when they involve Terry Richmond. Deputies Steve Lann (Emory Cohen) and Evan Marston (David Denman) initially see Terry as just another passerby when they knock him off his bike. However, they’re unaware that Terry is a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program graduate skilled in non-lethal, highly effective combat techniques.

Pierre, who portrays Terry, explains the character’s approach: “Terry’s objective, should he find himself in a situation which has progressed to the level of physicality and/or violence, is to bring that situation to a conclusion in a way that nobody is irreparably harmed. The mantra that we use in the film is ‘one mind, any weapon.’” With Pierre’s extensive background in boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and Muay Thai, Terry’s combat skills are a natural fit for the role.

In contrast, the Shelby Springs Police Department is ill-prepared for Terry’s level of skill. When Terry’s attempts to reclaim his property politely are thwarted, he decides to infiltrate the police station and strike a forceful deal with Chief Sandy Burnne, played by Don Johnson. Terry proposes to take back $10,000 for his cousin’s bail and allow the police to keep the remaining amount. Johnson describes Chief Burnne as “bifurcated in that he’s trying to help his town, but at other people’s expense.” Burnne’s budget cuts and reliance on civil asset forfeiture money, leaked to Summer by an informant, show how deeply entwined corruption is within the department.

Terry’s primary concern is ensuring his cousin Mike doesn’t spend too much time in state prison due to the danger posed by his status as a cooperating witness in a murder case. Despite Burnne’s agreement to help, it is tragically too late, as Mike is killed in prison before he can be safely transferred.

What happens at the end of Rebel Ridge?

Terry, rather than heading for Rebel Ridge, turns his attention back to the police station. He storms the armory and subdues Chief Burnne. However, his attempt to escape is thwarted by Deputy Jessica Sims (Zsané Jhé), whom he mistakenly believes to be Summer’s informant. This misjudgment nearly costs him his life as he faces the threat of a bullet to the head.

Unexpectedly, salvation comes from Officer Marston (David Denman), one of the officers who initially detained Terry. Terry soon realizes that Marston is indeed Summer’s informant. As Terry and the remaining officers brace for a final confrontation, the police station parking lot transforms into a battleground reminiscent of Terry’s military past.

For the action scenes in Rebel Ridge, director Jeremy Saulnier aimed for a more authentic depiction of hand-to-hand combat. He wanted to avoid the overly choreographed spectacle common in many action films. “My strength and strategy in this movie was to stay grounded and not reach for that level of over-choreographed spectacle we’ve grown accustomed to,” Saulnier said.

One particular sequence, where Terry drags Marston behind a parked car for cover, took several takes. Saulnier described the challenge: “[Denman] had stunt pads, he was safe, but we had a wire on him just so Aaron [Pierre] wouldn’t burn himself out after four or five takes because David is a big guy, 6-foot-4.” Despite this, Pierre requested to drag Denman for real, without any wires. “After we got a few in the can, Aaron asked us if he could drag David on his own for real, without any wires, and everyone agreed to give it a shot. That showcases Aaron’s dedication. And that, of course, is the take that made it into the movie.”