Although Lina Esco’s screen time in Netflix’s “The Rip” is brief, her character’s resonance is incredibly powerful. In the Miami narcotics unit, she portrays Captain Jackie Velez, a well-respected individual whose passing drives the plot. Esco’s character lives on, haunting the screen with emotionally charged flashbacks that give the movie its conscience, rather than disappearing into the background.
Considering her brief appearance, Esco’s performance is very powerful because she skillfully combines emotional nuance with strength. She anchors the team’s moral compass by leading with quiet command rather than yelling commands or controlling scenes with intensity. Although her character is killed off too soon, her influence endures. It persists, intertwined into the regrets, anxieties, and drives of those left behind.
Working with Ben Affleck, who portrays Detective JD Byrne, was pleasant and lots of laughing during production, according to Esco. By reducing their chemistry to something surprisingly relatable, she told People, “We were just two dorks, dorking around.” The two had private moments together that were pulsating with subtle connection rather than being overly dramatic. Their on-screen encounters felt genuine because of their energy, even though they were shown in bits and pieces throughout the movie.
| Name | Lina Esco |
|---|---|
| Profession | Actress, Director, Producer, Activist |
| Notable Works | ‘S.W.A.T.‘, ‘Free the Nipple’, ‘The Rip‘ (2026) |
| Role in ‘The Rip’ | Captain Jackie Velez (seen in flashbacks after her character’s murder) |
| Known Co-stars | Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeun |
| Platform | Netflix |
| Memorable Quote | “We were just two dorks, dorking around.” |
| Reference Link | https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31249604/ |
For a criminal thriller, director Joe Carnahan created an atmosphere that was remarkably caring. In contrast to the filth and grime of their characters’ world, the ensemble apparently unwinded to ambient music in between setups. Esco’s performance was both incredibly effective and deeply rooted as a result of that warmth. Her scenes provided emotional weight just by depicting a woman who had faith in her team; they didn’t require any more flare.
Not only is her performance brief, but it is also remarkably purposeful, which is what sets it apart. Every scene builds on the one before it, like a well-placed hint, giving the audience a deeper knowledge of Velez as a person as well as a police officer. Her loss hurts harder because of the sensitivity she displays in more subdued situations. She serves as a mirror for the moral collapse that ensues, in addition to being a plot catalyst.
Esco joined a cast full of prominent figures from the industry at the New York premiere, including Affleck, Damon, Yeun, and Taylor. However, early reviews continued to mention her, which is evidence of how much the film’s emotional equilibrium improves when her sequences are included. Even though her energy is moderate, it creates a tether for the audience.
As I watched her flashbacks, I felt a sudden wave of emotion. There is a scenario where Velez’s composed manner belies her uneasiness; it takes place in a quiet hallway right before a mission. That contradiction, expressed with weary eyes and a half-smile, made me think of the emotional toll that so many leaders bear in silence. It’s a moment that lingers with you instead of shouting.
Her character is surprisingly stable in a movie full of moral uncertainty and suspense. Unquestionably grounded, yet not perfect or stoic. By including these recollections into the picture, Carnahan stays clear of the common practice of exalting the deceased for narrative purposes. Rather, Esco’s Velez turns into a compass, subtly guiding the other members of the team back to their ideals.
Star power and high-stakes action are plenty in “The Rip.” But the film is elevated by Esco’s ability to give absence dimension. Her performance is like a melody that, once you hear it, you can’t stop listening to it even after the credits have rolled.
A gripping blend of suspense, treachery, and human frailty, The Rip is currently available for streaming on Netflix. A performance that feels both emotionally enduring and highly flexible sits right at the heart of Captain Jackie Velez’s flash-lit memory. For Esco to make her imprint, she only needs one sincere moment after another.
