On R List of Movie Reviews

(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)


River's Edge (1986)

Rate: 10
Viewed: 3/06, 5/15

RiverE
3/06: River's Edge is an exceptional, absorbing motion picture that's a study of social disaffection among teenagers.

The film is apathetic as they come, and the story is compelling with insight into loss of meaning of life. There are two outstanding performances by Crispin Glover and Daniel Roebuck. I like Dennis Hopper as Feck. Everybody else is good, too.

All in all, River's Edge is a well-directed masterpiece by Tim Hunter.

5/15: There are a lot of things I remember about River's Edge: the naked deceased girl, Crispin Glover's spaced-out performance, Daniel Roebuck's chilling soulless eyes, and Keanu Reeves' appearance.

Most importantly, it's a cult masterpiece that offers a realistic insight into teenager's social disaffection in the face of death. The characters live in the moment and try to get stoned or drunk as much as they can. When they see their deceased friend lying on the ground, it's like she went away on vacation despite having grown up with her since kindergarten. There's an interesting psychological aspect about the whole scene in terms of shock and apathy. Nobody wants to be the fink, so they just say nothing and therefore get on with their lives.

There are many excellent performances which are hauntingly real. My favorite has to be Crispin Glover whose character is so spaced-out that he's pretty weird himself. What's interesting is his perverse set of values. Layne is so stoked by the murder that he wants to protect his classmate, regardless of their superficial friendship, by proving his loyalty and doing what he can to help him get away with the murder.

Daniel Roebuck as Samson gets my vote as the creepiest character although Dennis Hopper's Feck is almost as crazy as him. The interactions between them are among the best scenes, and their psychoses are equally convincing. Because of Dennis Hopper, River's Edge is almost Rebel Without a Cause all over again.

Another weirdo is Joshua Miller who plays the brother to Keanu Reeves' character. I suppose it's because of their looks. I like the series of his actions, leading up to the moment that he's ready to kill his brother for trivial reasons. Keanu Reeves is perfect, but his performance is nothing interesting. He'll do a similar film a couple years later: Permanent Record. Everybody else blends in the ambience to give it a realistic feel.

All in all, River's Edge is Rebel Without a Cause of the 80's.