MATT DAMON AND BEN AFFLECK STAR IN “THE RIP” ON NETFLIX

Netflix’s The Rip delivers a gritty, pressure-cooker cop thriller that wears its influences proudly while still standing on solid ground of its own. Writer-director Joe Carnahan channels the sleek menace of Michael Mann, from rain-soaked Miami nightscapes to a pulsing synth score by Clinton Shorter that recalls Heat and Thief. The result isn’t revolutionary, but it’s confidently made and highly watchable.

Inspired by true events, the film kicks off with the murder of a Miami-Dade narcotics captain, setting off a tense chain of interrogations, mistrust, and moral gray areas inside the force. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck anchor the story as longtime partners whose loyalty is tested when a massive cartel cash stash puts everyone under suspicion.

Carnahan keeps the tension tight, bouncing doubt from character to character as the clock ticks down. With muscular direction, twisty plotting, and a strong ensemble cast, The Rip proves that a familiar genre can still hit hard when executed well.