Produced by and starring Taron Egerton, one of the greatest working actors of our generation, She Rides Shotgun was always going to be a must-see merely by association. Since his Golden Globe-winning performance in Rocketman, Egerton has embarked on a series of increasingly fascinating performances, from Tetris and Carry-On to standout Apple TV series roles in Smoke and Black Bird. Here, Egerton expertly performs as a face-tattooed ex-con absentee father who will do anything for the survival of his adorable nine-year-old daughter. The film’s biggest surprise comes in the shape of little Ana Sophia Heger—she holds her own, and brings an incredible emotional maturity to an essential role. Beautifully fusing the bond between father and daughter, She Rides Shotgun presents a thrilling road trip movie with a heart of gold.
Little Polly (Heger) receives quite a surprise when waiting for her mom to pick her up after school. The woman never shows; instead, Polly’s estranged father, Nate (Egerton), swoops her up and takes her on the lam. As Polly learns later that night from a television news report, her mother and stepfather have both been murdered. Nate is wanted for questioning, now suspected to have kidnapped little Polly in the process. The early scenes between Polly and Nate are tense and difficult, calling on Heger and Egerton to gradually inch closer together with their bond.
Despite being painted as an awful murderous parent by the media, Nate actually adores Polly. Unfortunately, Nate and his family have a “green light” cast upon them to be murdered by some truly bad men. Nate being so protective over Polly leads to captivating character moments. He vows to be completely honest to Polly and never lie to her again. Polly forgoes the annoying qualities of some cinematic children, no doubt in part thanks to Heger’s emotionally taught approach to the material. Her chemistry with Egerton makes this all work.
As Nate robs a gas station for some extra money and their enemies inch closer, determined detective John Park (Rob Yang) will stop at nothing to track down Nate. John means to conquer the corruption at the helm of a local police force, possibly climbing even further up the ladder. Initially, the detective aspect feels like more of a side quest, but John does eventually become vital to the unfolding story. Another notable cast member is the villainous sheriff Houser (John Carroll Lynch), an imposing figure and a serious threat. The swirling action comes to a head in the climax, when all forces clash spectacularly in an intense shootout. Somehow, even this section manages to find the heart and intimacy in its story of the father/daughter relationship. A final scene can be interpreted in a couple different ways—in any timeline, Ana Sophia Heger’s performance is simply exceptional.
Frequent horror collaborators Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski (Hellraiser, The Night House) adapt a surprisingly tender story from a novel by Jordan Harper. The visuals are as sumptuous as the drama, characterized by on location filming in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The film always looks stunning, and it certainly helps the atmosphere when its metaphorical backdrop effortlessly adds to the texture. A perfectly heartbreaking story between father and daughter, She Rides Shotgun has an emotional throughline and moral implications that leave its images seared into the mind.
Holster your weapon and embrace the fact that She Rides Shotgun, in theaters everywhere on Friday, August 1st.
