River’s Edge (1987)
84%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 5 nominations
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
River’s Edge is a movie that will make you feel like you need a hug and a therapist. It’s a horror story about real-life monsters, aka teenagers, and their moral vacancy. But don’t worry, Keanu Reeves is there to save the day with his perfectly cast performance. Some critics think it’s silly, but we think it’s a memorable trip with great, often insane performances. Just don’t watch it if you’re feeling down.
Production Company(ies)
Virgen Films,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Sacramento, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
1987
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Stereo
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:Japan
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jan 23, 2001
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Crispin Glover, Keanu Reeves, Ione Skye, Dennis Hopper, Roxana Zal, Daniel Roebuck, directed by Tim Hunter, written by Neal Jimenez, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Jay Boyar, Michael Wilmington, Variety Staff, Pat Graham, Geoff Andrew, Empire Staff, Richard Propes, Eve Tushnet, Dennis Schwartz, Emanuel Levy, Brad Laidman, rated R, teenage burnout, murder, California town, dead body, friends, police, strong performances, tension, urgency, harrowing tale, aimless youth, conscience, protecting friends, monsters, downbeat, depressing, volatile lunacy, trashy America, sociological film, white teenage alienation, drug-oriented, media-saturated society, actual event
Worldwide gross: $4,600,000
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $12,278,480
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,894
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,338,984
US/Canada gross: $4,600,000
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $12,278,480
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,558
US/Canada opening weekend: $67,794
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $180,958
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,704
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,900,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $5,071,546
Production budget ranking: 1,874
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,731,028
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,475,906
ROI to date (est.): 57%
ROI ranking: 1,113
Keanu Reeves – Matt
Dennis Hopper – Feck
Ione Skye – Clarissa
Roxana Zal – Maggie
Daniel Roebuck – Samson “John” Tollet
Director(s)
Tim Hunter
Writer(s)
Neal Jimenez
Producer(s)
Sarah Pillsbury, Midge Sanford
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (40) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (5)
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.
November 11, 2013
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
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.
November 11, 2013
Michael Wilmington
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
An unusually downbeat and depressing youth pic.
July 18, 2007
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
It’s more a success than a failure, if only because the confusions are so protean.
July 18, 2007
Pat Graham
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
There are some good, frightening scenes of volatile lunacy, but the whole thing badly lacks a controlling distance and perspective.
February 9, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
A disquieting tale set in the grim realities of trashy America. Some great, often insane performances make it a memorable trip.
October 6, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Empire Staff
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Glover is simply brilliant here.
September 21, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
…the acting is quite strong from almost everybody, but maybe the most interesting thing here is the emphasis on what it means to feel deeply.
March 26, 2020
Eve Tushnet
Patheos
A powerful sociological film on white teenage alienation in small-town America, that is even more amazing that it’s based on an actual event.
April 16, 2013 | Rating: A
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Based on an actual incident in Northern California, Tim Hunter’s controversial indie addresses the growing alienation and moral vacancy among youths growing up in drug-oriented and media-saturated society; Keanu Reeves is perfectly cast.
December 14, 2006 | Rating: A-
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
The silliest work of the ’80s.
December 6, 2005 | Rating: 1/5
Brad Laidman
Film Threat
November 1, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com…
Plot
A group of high-school friends must come to terms with the fact that one of them, Samson, killed another, Jamie. Reactions vary, as Layne is intent on protecting Samson and smuggling him out of the state, while others think it’s best to go to the police. Matt’s tough little brother also finds out about the body and no one knows quite how the police will learn about the murder or who will be blamed for it.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Crispin Glover’s performance in River’s Edge is described as “simply brilliant” by Empire Magazine.
Tim-Hunter.jpg
