It’s about to be a Taron Egerton summer. Currently starring in Smoke on Apple TV+, Egerton is returning to the silver screen later this summer as Nate in the crime thriller She Rides Shotgun.
Best known for his work as Eggsy Unwin in Kingsman and his Golden Globe Award-winning portrayal as Elton John in Rocketman, Egerton looks to deliver intense action and emotional storytelling in the Lionsgate film. Though the She Rides Shotgun trailer doesn’t reveal much about the backstory behind the main plot or characters, there are several standout moments.
A Heartwarming Haircut
The opening of any story should garner attention, and the She Rides Shotgun trailer definitely delivers. It’s not a big action sequence or even a one-of-a-kind scenario, but the haircut scene solidifies the heart of the movie: the father-daughter relationship between Nate and Polly (Ana Sophia Heger).
When Polly asks her dad if he’s ever done this before, it establishes the instability of their situation. While Polly may actually be concerned about her appearance and that her dad is going to mess up her hair, it also gives off the vibe that Nate’s following actions and decisions will be questionable, but ultimately all to protect Polly. The scene shows the undeniable chemistry between Egerton and Heger, in addition to Polly’s innocence and their overall father-daughter dynamic.
Beyond a Superficial Shirtless Shot
Though this isn’t a very substantial moment and doesn’t last more than a few seconds, we must admit the shirtless shot is easy to remember. Superficial reasons aside, seeing Nate’s bare torso raises a lot of questions. Without much context or background on Nate in the She Rides Shogun trailer, we can’t help but wonder: Who is Nate? Why exactly is he so ripped? What’s with the tattoos?
Most of them are just black drawings that don’t seem random, so we suspect some sort of meaning behind them all. But what stands out most are the two reddish armband tattoos on Nate’s left arm. Armband tattoos mean different things to different people, but they’re typically black. Were those tattoos that Nate started work on but never finished?
A Dark Doorway Confrontation
In the middle of the She Rides Shotgun trailer, a female-appearing character stands in a dark doorway and asks Nate, “What did you do?” We’re wondering the same thing. He’s got some enemies — one of whom has the police on his payroll. But what did Nate do to make these enemies? The trailer is still compelling and offers intrigue without all of this information, so it did its job of making us want to watch the film.
Furthermore, the doorway scene makes us question who this woman is. Is that Polly’s mother? What is Nate trying to do? Is he trying to drop Polly off to protect her? Or is he keeping her from getting too involved in his escape? The trailer showed how Nate’s worried about how running away is affecting Polly.
Safety First in ‘She Rides Shotgun’
It’s just one line in the She Rides Shotgun trailer, but when Nate reminds Polly to wear her seatbelt in the middle of a literal car chase, that really got us. It’s so simple yet so effective. Nate may have gotten them into dangerous trouble, but it’s obvious Polly is all he cares about. He will do whatever it takes to ensure her safety to the best of his ability. And that includes everyday car safety.
Shots Fired in ‘She Rides Shotgun’ Trailer
You know what’s not safe? A kid using a gun. After Polly fires a gun to try to save her dad, Nate’s concern is understandable. You don’t have to get far into the She Rides Shotgun trailer to recognize how everything Nate does is for Polly’s protection. So when she shoots a weapon to protect him, it’s like a wake-up call.
The clips and voiceover that follow reaffirm the heart of the story and are great demonstrations of the performances and emotions at play. The fear in Polly’s eyes is clear as she fires the gun. Nate’s face is the epitome of a scared and worried parent as he tells her to never do that again. Though the trailer gives us just a glimpse at Egerton and Heger’s work, it already looks phenomenal.
A Difficult Promise to Keep
If we had a nickel for every time we watched or read a story where someone promised someone else that they would keep them safe, we’d be rich. But the way Egerton’s Nate and Heger’s Polly delivered the closing scene of the She Rides Shotgun trailer made it feel so true, authentic, and heartbreaking, as though we hadn’t seen it a million times. Because just as openings should grab your attention, endings should leave their own mark.
She Rides Shotgun has a limited theatrical release beginning Friday, Aug. 1.
