RIVER’S EDGE – Tim Hunter

The 80′s hadplenty of teenage films, almost all were sex comedies and it didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure them out. With the exception of The Breakfast Club, there were very few “serious” or “serious subject” teen films. However, there was one that slipped under the radar. A dark themed film about murder, secrets, lower class America, and how dedicated friends can or can’t be. This film; River’s Edge, had all of that, but also included some powerful performances not just by it’s young cast, but by the legendary great actor; Dennis Hopper.

This is inspired by a true story. The story is about an oversized teenage slacker; John (played by Daniel Roebuck), who murders his girlfriend; Jamie, by the river. John was pushed to that point of no return and took this young girls life all because she was bad mouthing his mother. Apparently, John is pretty sensitive when it comes to his mother. However, John isn’t aware that at the time, but one of his friends brother; Tim (played by Joshua Miller), witnesses the crime. How long can 11 yr. Tim keep this dark secret?

Meanwhile, John tells his group of slacker frieds what he had done, but they don’t believe him. They are too busy getting high & drinking. The only way would be for him to show them himself. The leader of the group; Layne (played by Crispin Glover), knows that he must take control of the situation and protect his close friend from being caught. He does this by hiding him out at an ex-biker, one-legged, drug dealing psycho; Feck (played by the late-great, Dennis Hopper). Feck has mentally gone over the edge himself with his own dark past and having no one but a sex doll to keep him company. John’s other friends; Matt (played by Keanu Reeves), Clarissa (played by Ione Skye), Maggie, and Tony know that hiding John and his secret is not the right or smart thing to do. It’s up to one of them to see who makes the first move to make the situation right. Not telling is sometimes worse than the crime itself.

VOTE: 7.5/10

Regia: Tim Hunter
Cast: Crispin Glover, Keanu Reeves, Ione Skye
USA, 1986