She Rides Shotgun

by Mike McGranaghan

Any parent who sees She Rides Shotgun is certain to become uncomfortably tense from its earliest moments. Eleven-year-old Polly (Ana Sophia Heger) is waiting to be picked up after school. Her mom never arrives. Eventually, someone else does: her father, Nathan McClusky (Taron Egerton), who is suddenly out of jail. He convinces her to get inside his beat-up vehicle, even though it’s obvious that his presence is unsanctioned. Bad things are about to happen.

Polly quickly learns that Nathan has crossed a corrupt sheriff (John Carroll Lynch) and interfered with his criminal enterprise. A “greenlight” has therefore been placed against him. In other words, his life is in danger, as is Polly’s. Father and daughter go on the lam, trying to avoid being apprehended by the sheriff’s men. Polly quickly learns that Nathan is capable of extreme violence when provoked.

She Rides Shotgun is a twisted take on the old idea of a screw-up parent and a wounded child helping each other to heal. What differentiates it is that Nathan is really not a good guy, despite his love for Polly. He’s aggressive and often immoral. Suspense in the early scenes comes from seeing how the little girl becomes a witness to his volatile personality and wondering what parts of it might potentially rub off on her. Heger gives a very good performance, selling how Polly’s initial wide-eyed disbelief evolves into acceptance.

The film’s first hour is the best for that reason. It’s got a raw, nervous energy because we realize Nathan is putting his child in danger in the name of saving her. Interactions between the characters are haunting. You can feel Polly’s fear, but also her desire to be protected in a scary situation. Egerton does outstanding work, demonstrating how this deeply flawed individual still has a shred of decency inside of him.

Hour two is a bit more conventional, as it focuses on Nathan’s inevitable confrontation with the sheriff. The film gets into some nasty violence as things come to a head, especially during the finale. That uneasy Nathan/Polly dynamic recedes slightly into the background at this point. In a way, She Rides Shotgun paints itself into a corner by needing to resolve the male conflict in an explosive manner. Nevertheless, enough tension exists to keep you hooked, thanks to Egerton’s charisma and Lynch’s menace.

Director Nick Rowland maintains a taut pace throughout, and he stages one of the best cinematic car chases of recent years. The heart of the movie, though, is the connection Egerton and Heger form. For whatever minor problems She Rides Shotgun may possess, their edgy onscreen bond makes this a thriller with an undeniable emotional impact.

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