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Ned Rifle is a 2014 American drama film directed by Hal Hartley. It is the final installment in his "Henry Fool" trilogy, which began with Henry Fool (1997) and continued with Fay Grim (2006). The film stars Liam Aiken as the titular Ned Rifle, a young man on a mission to hunt down his father, Henry Fool (Thomas Jay Ryan), who has been in hiding for years. Along the way, Ned reunites with his mother, Fay Grim (Parker Posey), and encounters the enigmatic Susan Weber (Aubrey Plaza), who may hold the key to his quest.

The film opens with a narration by Simon Grim (James Urbaniak), the brother of Fay Grim and the former lover of Henry Fool. Simon recounts the events of the previous films and sets the stage for Ned's mission. He tells us that Henry Fool has become a cult figure in the years since he disappeared, and that Ned has been raised to hate his father for the damage he caused to their family. Ned, now 18 years old, has been living in a juvenile detention center for several years, but he is finally released and sets out to find his father.

Ned's first stop is his aunt Fay's house, where he meets her new husband, Dr. Angus James (Martin Donovan), a former FBI agent who is suspicious of Ned's intentions. Fay is initially reluctant to help Ned find Henry, but she eventually agrees to accompany him on his journey. They travel to a small town in upstate New York, where they believe Henry is hiding out. Along the way, they encounter Susan Weber, a young woman who is obsessed with Henry Fool and has been following his trail across the country.

Susan is a mysterious and intriguing character, and her motives are unclear. She seems to be both drawn to and repelled by Ned, and she alternates between helping him and undermining him. Aubrey Plaza delivers a strong performance as Susan, bringing a sense of danger and unpredictability to the role.

As Ned, Fay, and Susan get closer to finding Henry, they face a series of challenges and conflicts. They must deal with the local authorities, who are also searching for Henry, and they must confront their own emotional baggage as they come to terms with their past. Meanwhile, Henry remains elusive, and when he finally does appear, he brings with him a new set of complications.

The film is shot in Hartley's signature style, with static shots and deadpan humor. The dialogue is witty and literate, with references to Shakespeare and Milton interspersed with contemporary pop culture. The performances are strong across the board, with Liam Aiken giving a nuanced portrayal of Ned and Parker Posey bringing depth to the character of Fay. Robert John Burke also returns as the hapless Garth, Henry's former assistant, providing some comic relief in the midst of the drama.

Overall, Ned Rifle is a satisfying conclusion to the Henry Fool trilogy. It blends humor and drama in a way that is uniquely Hal Hartley, and it provides a fitting resolution to the story of Henry, Fay, and their family. While it may not be for everyone, fans of Hartley's previous work will find much to admire in this thoughtful and engaging film.

Ned Rifle is a 2015 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2 and a MetaScore of 67.