Review of Ride: Harrowing Bull Rider Crime Drama Is Unexpectedly Powerful and Shocking
Ride is, on first look, a normal movie about a family of bull riders. Its gifted ensemble and original narrative distinguishes it from similar films and produces a film that makes an impact even with its sporadic perplexing points of view. Directed by Jake Allyn (who plays Peter) and written by him and Josh Plasse (who plays Peter's brother), the 2024 Crime Drama centers on the Hawkins family, who lives in Texas and whose daughter is cancer-stricken after her son just got out of prison following a four-year term.
C. Thomas Howell is the Hawkins Family patriarch; Annabeth Gish is the matriarch and sheriff; Forrie J. Smith is the wise and sympathetic grandfather; and Zia Carlock is the small child who will die should her family fail to raise sufficient money for her cancer treatment. Together with Allyn as the drug-addicted ex-convict and Plasse as the starry-eyed middle kid, the Hawkins create a complex family that will give all for one another despite their problems. Ride is ultimately about the extremes some people travel to save a loved one.
Ride's gripping narrative inspires surprising turns to set it apart from related movies.
Ride starts with the knowledge that Virginia's illness has resurfaced, just as her brother Peter leaves jail for a crime not disclosed until much later on in the narrative (though we can deduce what Peter did). Peter clearly distances himself from his Family except from his grandfather. Right out of the gate, the movie has lots of drama that gently builds up the narrative, draws us in, and makes us care about the people.
Rider (2024) Cast
Agent | Actor
— | —
C. Thomas Howell | John Hawkins
Monica Haw Kens | Annabeth Gish
Peter Hawkins| Jake Allyn
Al Hawkins / Forrie J. Smith
Josh Placed | Noah Hawkins
Zia Carlock | Virginia Hawkins
Libby Kaye Booth | Laci Kaye
Ross Dickons Scott Reeves
Tyler/Patrick Murney
Deputy Justin | Austin Robert Russell
Ana / Liz Atwater
Kaller | Lindsey Shope, Dr.
Ride's unique story enables room for unexpected turns, which on a second view are unavoidable from the start of the film. Peter is estranged and his parents seem to be apart, but the Hawkins' tie runs deep and anything they do for one another makes sense. No matter how surprising. Annabeth Gish's picture has a multifaceted story and the means to set itself apart from other conventional rodeo films thanks to these turns and character relationships.
Standout Performances By Jake Allyn, C. Thomas Howell, and Annabeth Gish Boost Ride
Ride's gifted cast—stars C. Thomas Howell, Annabeth Gish, and Jake Allyn—helps to both improve its story and set it apart. Though Allyn shockingly steals the show as Peter, who, despite his hardships wants to do right by his family, Howell and Gish provide exceptional performances. Thanks to Allyn's riveting performance, one can't help but care for his complicated character, who, although making numerous blunders during the plot, portrays the nuances exactly and tenderly.
The ensemble of the movie is really Ride's heart and soul. Every member of the Hawkins family is shown with subtlety and complexity, highlighting the ties and tensions defining their relationships. Particularly striking is how Howell presents John, showing a guy trying to keep his family together against great adversity. Impressive as well is Gish's portrayal of Monica, a tenacious and driven lady, stressing the extent a mother will go to guard her child. With his riveting portrayal, Allyn brings to life a character who battles his past and his need to atone.
Sometimes the narrative structure of Ride makes the plot twisted.
Ride's gripping narrative keeps us on the tip of our seats, although occasionally the Crime Drama is confusing. Though the narrative is told in a different manner, it slightly ruins the film since it could get unclear. It seems reasonable that we might grasp the Hawkins' dynamics (such John and Monica's relationship) without knowing the whole truth; facts from the past of the characters—especially regarding Peter—take an unneeded amount of time to be revealed.
Riding is a gripping film that pulling at the heartstrings and leaves an impact long after the credits have rolled about the extent a family is ready to go to protect one another. Ride's ending is also a little sudden, jagged, and confusing, which begs questions about why and how the narrative closes in the manner it does. Usually a positive thing, the movie mostly depends on showing rather than telling, hence a bit more telling would have been much appreciated. Still, Ride is a gripping film about the extent a family is ready to go to keep one another safe, touching the heartstrings and leaving a legacy long after the last credits run.
Ride: View the movie here.
Fighting to generate funds to send the family's young daughter to a better cancer facility are three generations of Bull Riders. Set in Stephenville, Texas, Ride examines rodeo, heartland addiction, and the cowboy's place in contemporary America.
The riveting movie Ride examines the nuances of family, loss, and atonement. Universal and relevant are the film's themes of love, sacrifice, and the continuing force of the human spirit. Fans of family dramas and crime thrillers should definitely check Ride for its gripping narrative, superb acting, and surprising turns. The way the movie explores the realm of bull riding offers a real and interesting look at a subculture sometimes disregarded.
