Rebel Ridge is the second feature by Jeremy Saulnier, a thrillers directed, that is aimed at shocking the audience with its scenes of action and included comments about society. The movie can be streamed on Netflix where our lead is Aaron Pierre portraying the protagonist of the movie, Terry Richmond, a marine who decides to take on just what corrupt policed in a small town deserve. The movie with its more realistic 80s action movie tone has proved popular with viewers with action scenes, well-remembered catchphrases and Pierre’s leading role. But beyond the adrenaline-pumping scenes, one key location in the film has raised questions: Samaterian Hospital.
Rebel Ridge Filming Locations
Most of the filming of Rebel Ridge took place in Louisiana which is famous for its versatility of terrains which can be used to portray various regions in the United States. Filming started in May 2021 because of the pandemic and replacing John Boyega with Aaron Pierre, the main actor. The Shelby Springs in the film perfectly portrayed the small town environment the story was set in, which is Louisiana.
Louisiana had many locations on site, especially New Orleans which is a historically rich city dominating the productions. Cue the efficiency of New York City, the building architecture and the liveliness of the city offered a complete opposite to the serenity of the other rural areas of the state that were used for the scenes of a small town. For instance, Leesville and Lacombe represent such locations which are quite picturesque and which offered a perfect back-drop to the personal and sensitive aspects of the movie. This brought life to the imaginary corrupt town that was portrayed as having aclusion and eeriness was created by the quieter locations.
Is Samaritan a Real Hospital in Rebel Ridge Movie?
Samaritan Hospital is an important factor in Rebel Ridge. The author has used it as an important aspect of the story. It is the place where Mike, Terry’s cousin is taken after been stabbed in prison, and it is also the shooting area of some of scenes of the climax. But as much as the film gives importance to Samaritan Hospital, this place is fictional and does not exist in real life. The hospital actually doesn’t exist and it was created by Saulnier, which is a place that plays the major role in the film.
Although Samaritan Hospital is fictitious, it is based on many real-life healthcare organizations in the U. S. A. – for example, Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, California or Samaritan Hospital in Troy, New York. However in Rebel Ridge, the imaginary hospital is located in a quite isolated rural area, which only increases feelings of isolation and danger that Terry experiences during the movie. The specific place where the building is located in the film, must have been designed and built well before the making of the movie and altered to suit the productions’ needs.
Director Jeremy Saulnier, who has particular focus on the precise environment and spotted locations, decided to shoot in Louisiana as the state can represent different parts of the U. S.
The lead actor of the movie Aaron Pierre expressed a lot on his part of how it was working on the movie in Louisiana. From the interviews, he was found to be so fond of the state’s culture, foods, and climates. Among them it was particularly noticeable his affection for New Orleans, where was shooting took place and where the cast and crew were settled. The influence of the environment can be seen from Pierre’s comments about filming there and how this setting helped to create a Terry Richmond character, who was not just rough and tough and resourceful.
Overall, the location, including Rebel Ridge and the ficitious Samaritan Hosptial enhance the suspense and build on the movie’s themes and messages revolving alround justice, corruption and Survival. Even if it is not real, the hospital is the important setting which takes the main place in Terry’s path and events that happen at Rebel Ridge.
Aaron Pierre: Is Netflix’s Rebel Ridge Inspired by a True Story?
