Based on Jordan Harper’s Edgar Award-winning novel, She Rides Shotgun is a relentless, emotionally charged crime thriller that follows 11-year-old Polly Huff (Ana Sophia Heger), a girl suddenly thrust into a life-or-death battle when her estranged father, Nathan McClusky (Taron Egerton), rescues her from school—only to reveal she’s been marked for death by a powerful prison gang. With nowhere safe to turn, Polly must learn to survive on the run, stealing cars, evading hitmen, and mastering her father’s brutal skills, all while grappling with the terrifying truth: the man teaching her to kill might be the only one who can save her.

Directed with raw intensity and anchored by powerhouse performances, She Rides Shotgun blends the white-knuckle tension of No Country for Old Men with the emotional gut-punch of The Professional. As Polly and Nathan crisscross the Southwest, leaving blood and broken rules in their wake, the film explores what it means to be family in a world where love and violence are sometimes the same thing.

Full Cast of She Rides Shotgun

1: Ana Sophia Heger as Polly Huff

Ana Sophia Heger delivers a breakthrough performance as Polly Huff, the precocious 11-year-old forced to mature overnight when thrust into her father’s violent world. The young actress brings remarkable depth to the role, capturing Polly’s transformation from frightened child to hardened survivor with subtle physicality and emotional authenticity. Her scenes learning survival skills from Nathan crackle with tension, as Heger masterfully portrays the character’s simultaneous fear of and fascination with her criminal father.

Heger’s performance shines brightest in quiet moments – a stolen glance at a normal family eating ice cream, the trembling hands as she loads a gun for the first time. These nuanced touches prevent Polly from becoming a mere action archetype, instead crafting a fully-realized young girl wrestling with impossible choices. The actress reportedly underwent extensive firearms training and studied survival techniques to bring gritty realism to her stunts and action sequences.

2: Taron Egerton as Nathan McClusky

Taron Egerton sheds his charming persona to embody the morally complex Nathan McClusky, a career criminal who becomes both protector and predator to his daughter. Egerton brings terrifying intensity to the role, his physical presence radiating barely-contained violence even in calm moments. The actor’s transformation includes a gaunt, weathered appearance and deliberate, economical movements that suggest a man constantly assessing threats.

What makes Egerton’s performance extraordinary is how he hints at Nathan’s buried humanity without softening the character’s brutal edges. His teaching scenes with Heger oscillate between chilling practicality and unexpected tenderness, creating a father-daughter dynamic unlike any other in recent cinema. The Welsh actor reportedly isolated himself during filming and studied real ex-convict interviews to perfect Nathan’s specific mannerisms and speech patterns.

3: Odessa A’zion as Charlotte

Odessa A’zion creates one of the year’s most memorable antagonists as Charlotte, the gang’s ruthless enforcer who takes personal delight in hunting Polly. A’zion plays the character with terrifying unpredictability, her cheerful demeanor snapping into violence without warning. The actress brings physical ferocity to fight scenes while maintaining Charlotte’s unsettling, almost playful cruelty in quieter moments.

A’zion’s chemistry with Heger during their climactic confrontation is electrifying, showcasing two very different but equally dangerous survivors. The actress drew inspiration from real female criminals to craft Charlotte’s distinctive blend of charm and menace, resulting in a villain who’s both believably threatening and darkly charismatic.

4: Rob Yang as John Park

Rob Yang delivers a standout supporting performance as John Park, the meth cook caught between loyalty and self-preservation. Yang brings nervous energy and dark humor to the role, creating a character who’s simultaneously pathetic and sympathetic. His scenes with Egerton crackle with tension as John vacillates between helping Nathan and fearing the consequences.

Yang’s portrayal makes John’s ultimate fate particularly tragic, as the actor shows us glimpses of the decent man buried beneath the addict’s desperation. The actor reportedly researched addiction recovery stories to bring authenticity to John’s struggles, resulting in a performance that avoids clichés about drug users.

5: David Lyons as Jimmy

David Lyons is chilling as Jimmy, the crime boss whose polite demeanor masks terrifying brutality. Lyons plays the character with unsettling calm, his soft-spoken threats carrying more weight than any shouted dialogue. The actor creates a villain who believes completely in his own moral code, making him all the more dangerous.

Lyons’ scenes with Egerton are masterclasses in tension, as two alpha predators circle each other with veiled threats. The Australian actor studied real organized crime figures to perfect Jimmy’s combination of businessman-like efficiency and casual cruelty, resulting in one of the most believable crime lords in recent cinema.

Supporting Cast Highlights

6: Jamie Bernadette brings heartbreaking realism to her brief but pivotal role as the Mom at School, conveying volumes about Polly’s stolen normalcy in just a few scenes. Her panicked reaction to the abduction sets the film’s intense tone from the outset.

7: Edgar Damatian delivers a memorable turn as the Truck Stop Cop, making the most of his limited screen time to create a fully-realized character. His final moments are unexpectedly poignant, reminding viewers of the human cost of Nathan’s war.

8: Conrad R. Padilla makes the Good Samaritan role far more than a plot device, imbuing the character with such warmth that his fate lands with devastating impact. His kindness provides the film’s moral center before violence erupts.

9: Goldie Tom and Kiko Sanchez add texture to their small roles as the School Teacher and Motel Man respectively, creating believable everyday people caught in extraordinary circumstances. Their naturalistic performances ground the film’s more heightened elements.

The ensemble’s collective commitment to authenticity helps sell the film’s gritty realism, with even minor characters feeling like real people rather than stereotypes. This attention to detail elevates the material beyond typical crime thriller fare.