The Wasteland Reviewer

She Rides Shotgun (2025) Written Review

How far will a desperate man go to protect his life and the only other life out there that truly matters to him…his daughter? There have been plenty of stories in the history of cinema that capture the unique relationship between a flawed (mostly criminal) father and his innocent daughter. Some of those stories are more metaphorical and that “father/daughter” relationship might be more of a dynamic instead of literal familial connection. But such a connection is so powerful that the love of a parent will push someone to places they might not go on their own. But that is the tense and suspenseful tale at the heart of Nick Rowland’s She Rides Shotgun. Taron Egerton’s Nate must go on the run with his unsuspecting and estranged daughter Polly (Ana Sophia Heger) when both their lives fall apart. 

What does Rowland offer up from a dramatic and suspense perspective with She Rides Shotgun? This is a two-pronged atmospheric experience that delivers equal amounts of familial drama and crime thrillers. The audience gets to witness the evolution of this father/daughter relationship that goes from fear to a deeply profound connection in the eyes of this young girl. There are so many moments where simple, joyous moments hit, and Rowland captures the audience in the palm of his hand. But he really excels when things go awry and that tension begins to rise to a fever pitch. Rowland expertly delivers thrills through some hauntingly violent and brutal moments. We witness the innocence of this young girl shattered through the actions of her father, the violent men surrounding them, as well as some shocking acts of her own. From the opening scene surrounded by mystery and tension, Rowland envelops you with so many poignant moments including the final scene that is just pregnant with so much emotion expressed through the look of a young girl’s face. The pacing is excellent as well with the quieter and louder moments all feeling earned and engrossing. 

Does this narrative offer up something compelling for the audience? There are so many strongly written moments between Nate and Polly as we witness their connection growing and evolving. The cutting of her hair is such a beautiful moment that is born out of necessity but brings them together, nonetheless. Nate teaching his daughter certain things while trying to protect her from others shows the dimensions of the complex and flawed man. The specter that haunts Nate and Polly is a violent and dangerous gang that is more expansive than you can imagine (which makes every scene tense). There are perfect juxtapositions between these quiet moments between father/daughter and violent and shocking moments when this specter catches up with them. There are some other characters who find their way into Nate and Polly’s story including a by-the-books detective, John Park (Rob Yang). The investigation becomes bigger and broader (which does feel like it detracts from some of the central dynamic at times), but it leads to a thrilling and tragic finale. She Rides Shotgun might be a drama and thriller but most importantly it is a tragedy. Nate’s flaws and actions stalk him (and in turn Polly as well). The way Nate’s arc in this film comes to an end feels so emotionally devastating but thematically poignant. The loss of innocence for Polly is truly the most significant thread of the whole film and Rowland delivers that so impactfully throughout every beat of this story. 

What is the key element to tie Rowland’s film together? The cast. Egerton’s performance is full of rage and fear. The physicality that he can sell on screen makes so many of these moments fully engross the audience. Egerton’s performance is deeply authentic and believable with his raw and unadulterated approach to crafting Nate on screen. There are so many mixed and complex emotions expected out of him throughout the film. But the real star of the film is Heger. This young performer is a revelation on screen. The layers she crafts into Polly and the range of emotion she can achieve shows just how mature beyond her years this young performer is. This film would not work without Polly’s journey at the core and Heger brings endless empathy to this performance. Her final moments on screen are devastating and beautiful at the same time. Yang is there to deliver a lot of exposition and orders, but his solid presence is an important piece. She might only be in the film for a single segment but Odessa A’Zion finds a way to really stand out as Nate’s ex-girlfriend. The looming specter of the film is fully embodied by esteemed character actor John Carroll Lynch who delivers an antagonistic performance that is full of terror, menace, and an intimating presence that stands out on screen. 

Is She Rides Shotgun a thrilling drama that is worth the challenging elements at its core? Rowland has crafted one of the most impactful films of the year so far. The writing is sharp with every scene having purpose and meaning to the film even when it becomes a little too broad in its perspective. Heger delivers a “coming-out” performance that makes her the real standout of the whole, talented cast. The drama and thriller elements are both effectively stoked throughout the film and makes She Rides Shotgun a film that impressively delivers on two fronts. Be prepared to be hurt emotionally but the cinematic experience is so poignant and worthy of your time.