River's Edge

R

1987

1 hr. 38 min.

Drama

Crime

List

88%

43 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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mark g

Will stay with you. Has that great coming of age/midnight movie feel to it. Funny and dark as hell at the same time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/24

Full Review

Jelisije J

A movie that deals with a lot of themes and messages about teens and their struggles in life, but not a re watchable film due to its poor acting and laughable script.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of my favorite 80s movies

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/14/22

Full Review

Audience Member

It's hard to know what's worse: the murder or what came after at the rivers edge? A young Crispin Glover, Keanu Reeves, Daniel Robick, and the late Dennis Hopper Samson 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 tries to force the teens' silence to protect their friend, but conscience is gnawing at the others -- particularly Matt and Clarissa who want to go to the police The question is is it better to not say anything or take action before things get worse? Barely anything progresses in this and it's hard to find the characters likable This movie is way too long too and it's too downbeat and depressing It's trying to tell a story of aimless youth showing real monsters of their own making feeling grim Needed to try harder though

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Perfect portrait of thrash metal juvenile delinquents inthe mid 80s, and an unforgettable Dennis Hopper as the one legged psychopath Fek, make this one of the top 10 generation x films.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

doug (da) a

I missed this movie when it first came out and going back to it now was rewarding. Some of these young actors ended up being quite famous over time. Worthwhile movie with a good but dark message about teens.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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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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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

An unusually downbeat and depressing youth pic.

Jul 18, 2007

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: John Daly, Derek Gibson
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

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