The Rip debuts on Netflix on January 16.

Netflix’s The Rip is a deceptively good film, but its compelling premise about cartel stash houses and corrupt law enforcement is nearly undone by an impractical script. And in terms of action, the mostly by-the-numbers approach to gunfights doesn't win it any favors. That said, solid performances from the cast, especially that of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and a last-minute twist save The Rip from mediocrity.

The Rip starts well enough. Hours after the violent death of their captain, Lieutenant Dane Dumars (Matt Damon) and Detective Sergeant JD Byrne (Ben Affleck) are grilled regarding their potential involvement in the incident. Questions about their whereabouts during the crime, personal relationship with the deceased, and notions of stolen drug money are met with aggressive body language and hesitant responses. Subtle shifts in lighting color the interrogations, where a darker room hints at someone being dishonest. Essentially, director Joe Carnahan (Narc, Smokin' Aces, The Grey) does a great job of sowing seeds of doubt early on.

The Rip’s uneasy vibe slowly develops over time. As new information is revealed, it becomes increasingly difficult to pin down who might’ve done what and why. The tension truly ramps up, however, after an “anonymous” tip comes in about a stash house holding a sizable amount of cash. When Dane and his fellow detectives head over to investigate, they end up finding more than they bargained for. The result: a nerve-wracking yet entertaining stand-off between the cops, a drug cartel, and everyone in between.

What makes The Rip work as an action thriller, at least initially, is the interactions between these morally ambiguous characters. The idea that longtime friends/co-workers could be swayed to murder one another over large sums of money is compelling. And that’s before witnessing any secret text messages or ominous phone calls threatening violence. Unfortunately, the film’s uneven script often betrays the tension-filled premise. While there are a few good verbal exchanges, some of the dialogue fails to convey the seriousness of the situation. When a person is confronted over their questionable actions and their response is basically a shrug, it makes it seem like they don't care about the potential consequences. Worst of all are the film's transparent attempts at misdirection which only wind up leading to an outcome we've been expecting all along. Of course this guy who seems absurdly guilty isn't the real villain.

That’s not to say that The Rip’s ending is predictable. Key moments still play out in interesting ways, despite how inevitable they may feel. The issue is in how unrealistic some of its characters can be. When a seemingly pragmatic person says something unreasonable, damning even, it’s hard not to see their incriminating banter as anything other than a red herring. This sort of thing sucks all of the tension out of the film as the real culprits become readily apparent; at that point, all of the suspense that has been built up completely vanishes. And so The Rip begins to lose some of its spark. This feeling doesn't change when the bullets start flying either; even if the shootouts were exciting, they don’t last long enough to be impactful.

Thankfully, The Rip is saved by its talented cast and exciting final moments. Steven Yeun is convincing as the apprehensive and seemingly straight-laced Detective Mike Ro. The same can be said of Catalina Moreno and Teyana Taylor, who play Detectives Lolo Salazar and Numa Baptiste respectively. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are the standouts though. Damon’s calm yet commanding demeanor reflects Lieutenant Dumars’ desire to safeguard his team while Affleck’s Byrne is more aggressive by nature. Eager to figure out what side of the law everyone stands on, he’s less likely to mince words – as evidenced by Affleck’s sharp line delivery.

Damon and Affleck are great whenever they're on screen. But they excel when playing opposite one another. Their clashing personalities keep things interesting whether they’re fighting or sharing a heartfelt moment. This is true even to the point of making The Rip’s last-minute twist, which does a good job of addressing the film’s ongoing mystery, feel exhilarating. Being so thoroughly invested in Dumars and Byrne’s plight, I was on the edge of my seat by the time the smoke actually cleared.

With 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (review) now hitting theaters, audience members might be scratching their heads regarding the character known as Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal. Played by Sinners' Jack O'Connell, Jimmy leads a gang known as, well, The Jimmys... and he is not to be trifled with.

After showing up briefly in the previous film, last summer's 28 Years Later, Jimmy and his band of "Fingers" take center stage in The Bone Temple, along with Ralph Fiennes' Dr. Ian Kelson, who also returns from that earlier film. Other Jimmys include Erin Kellyman as Jimmy Ink and Alfie Williams as newcomer to the gang Spike, also back from 28 Years Later.

But why does O'Connell's character dress the way he does, and who is Jimmy Savile, the real-world and highly controversial British celebrity who he's based his identity on? We've got the lowdown right here...

Note that the following does NOT include spoilers for The Bone Temple!

If you’re not from the UK, 28 Years Later's bizzare final sequence probably (and understandably) meant very little to you. But anyone who does call the island kingdom home will instantly recognise who O’Connell and his pals are cosplaying as: Jimmy Savile, one of Britain's most prolific sexual predators. During the 60s, 70s, and 80s, Savile was a household name, having hosted some of the country’s most-watched TV shows, Jim’ll Fix It and Top of the Pops. The former saw him work extensively with children for nearly two decades. Savile’s crimes only became widespread public knowledge after his death in 2011. Extensive investigation by both the police and BBC reporters led to hundreds of allegations of abuse, involving both children and the elderly. There have since been multiple documentaries about his criminal activities, including the Netflix show Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story.

O’Connell’s character is the grown-up version of Jimmy, the little Scottish boy who had a quite terrifying ordeal while trying to enjoy an episode of the Teletubbies during 28 Years Later’s opening sequence (he still wears the crucifix pendant that his dad gave him before being attacked by the infected). The credits of that film reveal that as an adult he goes by the name Sir Jimmy Crystal, and interviews from around the time of the film's release explained that he’s a cult leader with a dark past. The cast list also notes that every member of his cult is named after Savile in one way or another. There’s Jimmy Jimmy, Jimmy Ink, Jimmy Jones, Jimmy Fox, Jimmima… you get the idea.