She Rides Shotgun

Ana Sophia Heger dazzles as Polly. While the script is certainly better than average, Ana is very believable in each situation thrown her way. The film is worth watching if for no other reason than her performance. Hopefully she gets some recognition in the way of award nominations based on this film and future scripts deserving of her talent.

Nick Rowland's "She Rides Shotgun" transforms a familiar father-daughter-on-the-run premise into something surprisingly raw and authentic.

Taron Egerton delivers career-best work as Nathan, an ex-con whose volatile desperation feels genuinely lived-in, not movie-manufactured. But the film's secret weapon is Ana Sophia Heger as 11-year-old Polly... she's fearless without being precocious, heartbreaking without milking tears.

Adapting Jordan Harper's acclaimed novel, the screenplay wisely sidesteps sentimental traps that doom similar stories. Instead of sugar-coating trauma, it explores how love can bloom in violence's aftermath. The Aryan Steel gang threat feels menacingly real, grounding the action in consequences that matter.

Rowland's direction maintains brutal honesty about what survival costs, both physically and emotionally. While some action sequences feel uneven, the central relationship never wavers. Egerton and Heger's chemistry sells every moment of their unlikely education - he teaches her to fight, she teaches him to feel.

The film succeeds because it respects both its characters and audience intelligence. This isn't just another crime thriller with a kid sidekick; it's a meditation on how broken people can heal each other, even while running from the past's shadows.

7.5/10 - Gritty, genuine, and surprisingly moving.

While the acting skills of the leads make this film, the other elements of the production are pretty solid, too. Taron Egerton's always believable performance is so strong that one can wonder why he has yet to have a bigger career. Child actor Ana Sophia Heger more than holds her own with an emotionally devastating portrayal. The action scenes work, the suspense is sustained, and the villain is seriously evil. A few lines of dialogue are clunky, but this is otherwise a first-rate thriller anchored by two astounding performances.

I saw this movie last night. I had wanted to see it at the theaters, but it got such a limited release that my local theater didn't show it.

Anyways - I think this movie has a lot to offer. The story, visuals, and vibe are like a mixture of No Country for Old Men, The Road, and Paper Moon. The 2 leads are great, especially the little girl. There are some sweet father/daughter moments. At the start, they're estranged, and you can easily predict that they'll bond and begin to love one another. Yet that predictability doesn't make their relationship any less satisfying to watch. There is an original closing scene that hits the mark emotionally. The movie is gritty and hard-htiting

Some issues linger though -- The soundtrack is weird at times. The pacing drags a little; I honestly got bored or restless a few times. The movie does a poor job with the villain, the God of Slabtown. They try to set him up as this big, scary final boss, and this effort fails for several reasons, ranging from the casting to the writing. I also would've cast someone different for the police officer who helps the protagonists

7.0/10.

She Rides Shotgun is more than just a crime thriller-it's a raw and emotional journey carried on the shoulders of two extraordinary performances. Taron Egerton delivers a gripping portrayal of Nate, but it's Ana Sophia Heger, as Polly, who steals the film with a performance far beyond her years.

Ana Sophia brings an honesty and depth to Polly that is rare to see in young actors. She captures innocence, fear, resilience, and growth with such natural precision that every moment feels real. Her transformation from a vulnerable child clutching her teddy bear to a determined survivor is breathtaking to watch. The emotional weight she carries-matching and at times elevating her seasoned co-star-anchors the film with heart and authenticity.

The chemistry between Heger and Egerton is magnetic, portraying a father-daughter bond that feels both fragile and unbreakable. Their shared scenes are some of the most powerful in the movie, leaving you unable to look away.

Beyond the performances, the film itself is strong: tense action sequences, a gritty sense of realism, and a villain that genuinely unnerves. But what makes She Rides Shotgun unforgettable is Ana Sophia Heger's stunning work. She doesn't just "play" Polly-she becomes her.

Simply put, Ana Sophia Heger is the heart of this film. Her performance alone makes She Rides Shotgun a must-see, and it's hard not to imagine awards in her future.