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

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.

Nov 11, 2013

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Michael Wilmington

Los Angeles Times

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.

Nov 11, 2013

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Variety Staff

Variety

An unusually downbeat and depressing youth pic.

Jul 18, 2007

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Steve Warren

Bay Area Reporter

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

Mar 29, 2023

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Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

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.

Rated: 9.5/10

Sep 23, 2022

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

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.

Rated: A

Aug 24, 2022

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Melissa L

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.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/12/25

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Terry T.

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/07/25

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Jonty S

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.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/12/25

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thiago s

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom, e o drama deu leve salvada no filme.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/07/25

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Nick O

Pure, unadulterated teen angst fueled by beer, weed, heavy metal and maybe just a little bit of random homicidal tendencies within your inner peer circle.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/09/25

Full Review

Sarfaraz A

Neal Jimenez wrote the script for this crime thriller, which Tim Hunter directed. The cast includes Keanu Reeves, Ione Skye Leitch, Crispin Glover, and Dennis Hopper. The plot of the film is loosely based on an actual murder that occurred in 1981. A young obese guy murders his friend by strangling her and leaves her nude body by the river. He brings a couple of school acquaintances, both boys and girls, to see the dead body. Earlier, a 12-year-old boy saw the dead body. Crispin, one of the friends who appear to be the boss, wants to assist cover up the murder, despite the wishes of the others. Keanu, upset by what he seen, makes an anonymous call to the police to notify them. We see Keanu's younger brother, who is pretty mean to his sister, is also a weed addict, and brandishes a gun at his older brother. At least some of these youngsters want to do good, but they are also frightened of upsetting their boss friend. The film contains strong acting and some tense scenes near the conclusion.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/26/25

Full Review

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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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