There are plenty of crime thrillers that are perfectly content to give you guns, violence, and a relentless chase and call it a day. She Rides Shotgun wants to be something more. Based on Jordan Harper’s novel, Nick Rowland’s film mixes a gritty crime thriller with a surprisingly tender father-daughter story, and for me, that’s where the movie really finds its strength.
Taron Egerton plays Nate McClusky, a newly released ex-con who discovers that the criminal world he left behind isn’t finished with him. Worse, the people coming after him aren’t just interested in settling an old score (they’re willing to go after his young daughter Polly), played by Ana Sophia Heger. Nate has very little time to figure out how to protect her, and the two are forced into a dangerous journey that slowly becomes something much more personal.
What I liked most about She Rides Shotgun is that it doesn’t immediately try to make Nate into some perfect action hero. He’s damaged, angry, and clearly carrying a tremendous amount of baggage from his past. His relationship with Polly is awkward because, in many ways, they don’t really know each other. Watching that relationship develop while they’re simultaneously trying to survive is what gives the movie its emotional weight. Egerton is excellent here, but Heger is the real surprise. She gives Polly a vulnerability and toughness that make the character feel like an actual kid rather than a miniature action hero.
The 4K presentation gives the movie an appropriately gritty appearance. The image is clean and detailed while retaining the darker, grounded look that defines the film. Facial textures, clothing, environments, and the various locations encountered along the journey all benefit from the increased resolution. Dark scenes are especially important here, and the presentation does a good job maintaining shadow detail without washing out the blacks. The color palette is appropriately restrained, with plenty of darker tones and muted environments that fit the story’s bleak atmosphere. When brighter colors do appear, they have enough punch to stand out without looking artificially boosted. It’s a very natural-looking transfer that doesn’t try to make the movie prettier than it was intended to be. The HDR presentation also helps give the darker sequences some additional depth. Nighttime scenes, dim interiors, and poorly lit locations maintain enough detail to keep the image from becoming a flat wall of black, while highlights from headlights, street lighting, and other practical sources have a nice sense of intensity.
I also appreciate that She Rides Shotgun doesn’t completely lose itself in the crime-thriller mechanics. There are moments when the story feels a little familiar and some of the supporting characters aren’t developed as deeply as they could be, but the central relationship gives the movie something to hold onto. It isn’t just about whether Nate can survive, it’s about whether he can become the father Polly needs before it’s too late. That combination is what makes the movie work for me. It’s a rough, violent, occasionally brutal thriller, but there’s a surprisingly tender movie hiding underneath all of it.
The 4K release gives She Rides Shotgun a strong home-video presentation that complements the film’s gritty visual style rather than trying to clean it up or make it something it isn’t. Add in the excellent performances from Egerton and Heger and the emotional core of the story, and this is an easy recommendation for fans of modern crime thrillers. It may not reinvent the genre, but it doesn’t need to. Sometimes a good, tough crime movie with characters you actually care about is enough.
Have you seen it yet? Are you a fan of this movie? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Cheers,
Matt.
While your here, check out more of my 4K & Blu-ray reviews. Even more, see the newest trailers, press releases, music and more on the rest of the site. Follow me for faster updates on Twitter and Instagram