River's Edge

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River's Edge

R

1987

1h 38m

Drama

Crime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Teenage burnout Samson (Daniel Roebuck) has murdered his girlfriend and left her naked body lying on the bank of a river just outside their small California town. He not only doesn't run away, he brings his friends to gawk at her dead body. Speed freak Layne (Crispin Glover) tries to force the teens' silence to protect their friend, but conscience is gnawing at the others -- particularly Matt (Keanu Reeves) and Clarissa (Ione Skye Leitch), who want to go to the police.

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Critics Consensus

A harrowing tale of aimless youth, River's Edge generates considerable tension and urgency thanks to strong performances from a stellar cast that includes Crispin Glover, Keanu Reeves, and Ione Skye.

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Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

11/11/2013

The triumph of this bleak, unsettling picture is that, no matter how grim it gets, it's far too involving for you to turn away.

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Michael Wilmington

Los Angeles Times

11/11/2013

River's Edge is a contemporary horror story about teen-agers, but it contains no slasher scenes or serial homicides. Its monsters are all too real.

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Variety Staff

Variety

07/18/2007

An unusually downbeat and depressing youth pic.

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Steve Warren

Bay Area Reporter

03/29/2023

Many of the young actors in River's Edge should be heard from again, with Reeves a particular standout.

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Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

09/23/2022

9.5/10

There’s something specifically unsettling in the authentic way that River’s Edge captures the pervading ennui of eking out an existence in this type of go-nowhere place.

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

08/24/2022

A

The passage of 35 years has made River’s Edge feel more timelessly tragic. Other than a few bits of score that briefly make the movie sound like a banal ‘80s thriller, it has aged very, very well.

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Nov 20

Not a very common movie that people know about. It's really good, but unsettling. I wish the CSM would age rate it. I'm really glad I stumbled upon it. Glover's voice and mannerisms are sooo magnetic!!!!

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AD 3

Nov 6

To me its just not authentic, especially Crispin Glover. Too over the top and overacted. He came off as someone who was acting and had zero life experience in anything pertaining to his role, it was about as inauthentic as you could be. If not for Keanu Reeves im not sure this movie would even be watchable. I do give it stars as it certainly as a tone to it and this teenage angst, it definitely missed the mark in exploring that though. I can say I wish I had gone to HS where they did, smoke breaks between class hell yea

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Leaburn O

Nov 1

Quality 80s teen story with the brattiest little kids thrown in. Keanu and co are all impressive. The story is a bit far fetched but still compelling enough to enjoy. Watched on Amazon Prime.

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Melissa L

Aug 12

I don't know how I missed this movie as I've watched many mid-to-late '80s movies when they were just made during that time period and beyond. This was a great movie with many stars before they made it big. The storyline was tragic, and it was very well-acted. Recommended viewing.

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Terry T.

@RNstat Aug 7

One of Keanu’s best roles. Very thought provoking film.

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Jonty S

Jul 12

I really fancied both Keanu Reeves and Ione Skye! I LOVED it when they got together! I wished they could have given each other a good spanking :) Seriously, it was a good film. Disturbing when you realise that all that surreal nastiness was based on a real story. A shame that the evil perpetrator was, in real life, eventually released from prison :( Let's hope something unfortunate happens to him one day.

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Tim Hunter

Director

Crispin Glover

Layne

Keanu Reeves

Matt

Dennis Hopper

Feck

Ione Skye

Clarissa

Roxana Zal

Maggie

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Synopsis

Teenage burnout Samson (Daniel Roebuck) has murdered his girlfriend and left her naked body lying on the bank of a river just outside their small California town. He not only doesn't run away, he brings his friends to gawk at her dead body. Speed freak Layne (Crispin Glover) tries to force the teens' silence to protect their friend, but conscience is gnawing at the others -- particularly Matt (Keanu Reeves) and Clarissa (Ione Skye Leitch), who want to go to the police.

Director: Tim Hunter
Producer: Sarah Pillsbury, Midge Sanford
Screenwriter: Neal Jimenez
Production Co: Hemdale Film Corporation [us], Sanford/Pillsbury Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.2M
Runtime: 1h 38m

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