Netflix’s latest crime thriller, The Rip, featuring stars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, has quickly ascended to the top of the streaming platform’s charts. The film, directed by Joe Carnahan, claims to draw from real-life events, raising questions about the authenticity of its plot. Set against the backdrop of Miami, the story revolves around two police officers responding to a tip-off regarding a suspected stash house. Accompanied by members of the Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT), they discover a staggering $20,650,480 hidden in the attic, igniting a gripping debate on how to handle the cash amid rising tension from both law enforcement and cartel figures.
The narrative of The Rip is indeed inspired by true events, particularly the experiences of Chris Casiano, a former Miami police officer. Casiano, who served as commander of the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Tactical Narcotics Team, uncovered a significant amount of money during a raid. The film’s depiction of the discovery mirrors Casiano’s real-life find, with the exact figure disclosed in the movie matching his discovery down to the last dollar. Director Carnahan, who has maintained a close friendship with Casiano, described the cash being “sledgehammered out” of a wall, confirming the authenticity of certain details, such as a barking dog outside the stash house.
Personal Touches and Tragic Loss
In a poignant twist, the character played by Matt Damon, Lieutenant Dane Dumars, is based on Casiano himself. The film also incorporates a deeply personal narrative element, reflecting Casiano’s heart-wrenching loss of his son, Jake William Casiano, to leukaemia in 2021. Carnahan emphasized the importance of honoring Jake’s memory, stating, “It was really important to me that [Jake] be the first name you see, because you understood that there was a beating heart at the centre.”
While the foundation of The Rip is rooted in reality, much of the plot has been fictionalized for dramatic effect. The film introduces the concept of corrupt officers pursuing the discovered money for personal gain, an event that did not occur in the actual incident. Additionally, the character portrayed by actress Sasha Calle, named Desi, was originally a male in the real-life event. Carnahan clarified this discrepancy, explaining, “The real rip – Sasha’s character, in real life, that was an older man.”
Cinematic Adaptation and Reality
The process of adapting true events into a cinematic format inevitably requires some alterations. Carnahan noted that while it wouldn’t be practical to depict the real-time counting of the money—an arduous task that took about 42 hours—the film sought to capture the essential elements that were visually compelling. “Certain things were expedited, certain things were snipped, and so on,” he explained, highlighting the challenge of balancing authenticity with storytelling.
As audiences engage with The Rip, they are invited to consider the line between fact and fiction in crime dramas. The film effectively captures the adrenaline and moral dilemmas facing law enforcement but also reminds viewers of the profound human stories behind these narratives.
For those interested in streaming this gripping tale, The Rip is now available on Netflix.
