Rebel Ridge’s Secret CGI Explained by VFX Artist

Rebel Ridge's Secret CGI Explained by VFX Artist

As someone who’s spent countless hours poring over films and their behind-the-scenes magic, I must say that Rebel Ridge has left me utterly captivated. The film, with its slow-burning plot and gripping fight scenes, is a hidden gem in the world of VFX.


In contrast to its slow-paced storyline and physical combat scenes, the movie “Rebel Ridge” surprisingly contains more than 500 visual effects subtly integrated into the plot. This Netflix hit, directed by Jeremy Saulnier and starring Aaron Pierre, has been a sensation with a high 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and quickly climbing up Netflix’s Top 10 list. As the story reaches its climax, Terry Richmond (played by Pierre) retaliates brutally against the corrupt police officers who unwittingly caused his brother’s demise. The scene is marked by intense fight choreography and, surprisingly, an abundance of visual effects.

In an interview with Art of VFX, Chris Connolly – the VFX artist behind Rebel Ridge – shared insights into the methodology employed to incorporate hidden visual effects in the film. Although there were no sharknadoes or Scorpion Kings in the final cut, computer-generated imagery (CGI) was utilized to amplify on-screen violence. The smoke grenades Terry throws at the police, numerous tasers, muzzle flashes, and even his powerful elbow strikes were all digitally augmented during post-production. Connolly elaborated:

“For the fight scenes, we tweaked actors’ position and movement to add intensity and realism. Sometimes it was a subtle speed-up; other times we would delay a character’s movement so they would land just right. We merged actors’ actions from separate takes, enhanced elbow hits, and intensified impacts. We also enhanced things like blood, muzzle flashes, bullet hits, tasers, and smoke.”

In my role as a follower, I’d like to add that Chris Connolly not only amplified the action sequences but also utilized Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) to expand the town of Shelby Springs. As I pedal my faithful bicycle through this small-town landscape, I notice CGI vehicles darting about, giving the town a bustling and inhabited feel. Chris continued by saying…

Additionally, there are numerous intricate 2D compositions that contribute to the aesthetics of the visual arrangement or the atmosphere of the narrative world. We incorporated various elements into each shot, such as trains, jets, trees, lightning, railroad crossing barriers, blue screen set windows, sky swaps, reflections in windows, and shadows on buildings.

Rebel Ridge’s Ambush Features the Most CGI

Rebel Ridge's Secret CGI Explained by VFX ArtistRebel Ridge's Secret CGI Explained by VFX ArtistRebel Ridge's Secret CGI Explained by VFX ArtistRebel Ridge's Secret CGI Explained by VFX ArtistRebel Ridge's Secret CGI Explained by VFX Artist

Even after repeated viewings, the computer-generated imagery (CGI) in “Rebel Ridge” is barely discernible. It might seem astonishing that a film of this kind relies heavily on visual effects, but it’s common for major productions to incorporate extensive, unnoticeable CGI. If you’re determined to search for the CGI in “Rebel Ridge”, Chris Connolly recommends starting with a specific scene as a good starting point, he says.

In this particular scene, Lann stops Terry’s vehicle and attempts to surprise-attack him inside the truck. The action on the road becomes quite chaotic with actors tumbling around and engaging in a physical altercation. To ensure safety, we had to eliminate a stunt pad that was placed on the asphalt. Additionally, we incorporated the effect of a taser being fired, with its prongs striking Lann’s neck, and taser wires dangling from the truck door.

In contrast to many filmmakers who strive to make their computer-generated imagery (CGI) indistinguishable from real sets and visual effects, director Jeremy Saulnier of the movie Rebel Ridge encourages viewers to actively search for the artificial elements. On his social media account, he has shared an interview and intrigued fans by presenting a challenge: “I bet you couldn’t find them, until now…

Rebel Ridge
is streaming on Netflix.

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2024-09-26 01:36