Writer and Director: Will Gilbey
Writer and director Will Gilbey pays a number of tributes in Jericho Ridge. There is a ‘’do-you-feel-lucky’’ confrontation between cop and criminal and the closing scene is framed using a doorway which recalls The Searchers. But the most obvious influence is the Howard Hawks/John Carpenter set up of heroes under siege by assailants with superior numbers and better weapons.
Deputy Tabby Temple (Nikki Amuka-Bird) has picked a poor time to break her ankle as a murder has taken place in Jericho Ridge, which is unusual for the remote town. The Jericho Ridge Police Department could just as well be called the Keystone Cops. Although he is up for re-election Sheriff Eddie Reynolds (Simon Kunz) allowed one of his less capable officers to close the station without setting the burglar alarms. Tabby returns from sick leave to help only to find the undefended station has been ransacked and weapons and confiscated drugs and cash have been stolen.
Tabby agrees to cover the switchboard while her three colleagues chase up leads, which also serves to distract her from her personal problems. The discovery her sullen son Monty (Zack Morris) was dealing drugs resulted in her demotion and Monty seems suspiciously interested in the murder case. Tabby allows Carter (Philipp Christopher) into the police station under the impression he is a contractor come to repair the damage caused by the break-in. She rapidly discovers he is one of the robbers who did not find the McGuffin they were seeking. Tabby manages to repel Carter but finds herself under siege when he returns with a heavily armed colleague. With a malfunctioning gun, a guilt-wracked son who has returned to make a confession and Earl Macready (Michael Socha) an unstable prisoner who could be an asset/liability/threat the injured Tabby must defend the station until reinforcements arrive.
Despite the tense situation director Will Gilbey takes an affectionate approach to the small town. Jericho Ridge is the sort of place where everybody knows everybody so when Tabby’s colleagues get in an armed confrontation, she resolves the problem by telephoning the suspect and persuading him to surrender by reminding him they went to school together. The downside is when a caller wishes to provoke Tabby she can criticise her son whose drug-dealing is common knowledge in the community.
Gilbey’s efficient storytelling sets a credible situation – Tabby can tell when attacks are coming by watching through the CCTV cameras- one of the few advantages she can call upon. The revelation of the cause of the attacks is a genuine surprise and helps to showcase Tabby’s deductive abilities.
Gilbey takes every opportunity to build up tension. The lights at the station are failing so much of the action takes place in shadow. A window unnervingly shatters just as Tabby approaches to take aim. At key moments, as Tabby watches events unfold over a computer monitor, the system fails. Most significant in building suspense is the physical toll upon Tabby who ends up so battered as to be barely able to stay on her feet. Tabby can only hobble and limp, rather than dramatically run, to tackle the intruders or assist colleagues.
Philipp Christopher, with a nasty thin smile that never reaches his eyes, is a very sinister villain and Michael Socha is terrific as the ambiguous motormouth Earl Macready ranging from a good ol’ boy drunkard to a possible ally or traitor. The film is, however, dominated by a stunning turn from Nikki Amuka-Bird whose expressive features show the strain of coping with such an extreme experience. Her eyes tear up when discussing the antics of her son and she builds to a dangerous, cathartic rage at the final confrontation.
Jericho Ridge is a lean, taut film with excellent performances which grips viewers from start to finish.
Jericho Ridge will be in UK Cinemas from 25th April and available on Digital Download from 29th April.
