The River Wild Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
The vacation is over
Gail (Meryl Streep) is a professional at water rafting. She twigs every day, and she is in a very good shape. She takes her family, one day, to a rafting trip down the river, but she has no idea that the planed trip is about to become a nightmare. Two escaping robbers with a handgun, meet the family in the way, and join them to the trip. Only later the Gail realize that their new friends are dangerous criminals, but it's too late. The two men force them to stay together, and to keep cruising down the river. The family's life are risked not only by the 2 men, but also by the river which becomes more stormy and wilder.
| Meryl Streep | Gail Hartman |
| Stephanie Sawyer | Willa |
| Joseph Mazzello | Roarke |
| David Strathairn | Tom |
| Elizabeth Hoffman | Gail's Mother |
| Victor Galloway | Gail's Father |
| Kevin Bacon | Wade |
| John C. Reilly | Terry |
| William Lucking | Frank |
| Thomas F. Duffy | Ranger |
| Benjamin Bratt | Ranger Johnny |
| Paul Cantelon | Violinist |
| Glenn Morshower | Policeman |
| Curtis Hanson |
6.10 out of 10 (5744 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Ladies can be Women, too.
posted on 14 Jul 2009Saw the movie in the theater, which is the best way to appreciate the river scenes. Had the opportunity to see "white water" up close. Wow! Loved the storyline;loved Meryl's role as the strong yet gentle woman who can think for herself. Loved the music, which I believe has Celtic roots. Would like to purchase the soundtrack.
Fantastic!
posted on 07 Jul 2009The River wild is a fantastic movie which shows Kevin Bacon at his best as a psycho. The plot is interesting and the movie always makes me glued to the TV. Plenty of action and it's quite intense as well, with the river making the film more exciting. You must see this movie! Go out and rent it now!89%
Streep and Bacon make this River Wild,not the plot!
posted on 21 Apr 2009Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon put the "wild" in Curtis Hanson's 'The River Wild".The plot is terribly formulaic,but it is the depth of the acting that takes this fodder and turns it into something exciting and nail-biting.Streep and Bacon go head to head down the river gorge locking wits and butting brains with enough action/adventure shots and a riveting Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack to keep one's attention and heart racing.This film is to be enjoyed for it's outstanding cinematography,smart editing, but not for some of the corny story lines that are presented.
So-so.
posted on 20 Apr 2009There are times when I agree with the people who bash this film, and then there are times when I agree with the people who think this movie is one of the best action films ever (which it isn't by the way).Meryl Streep acts decently here, but there are a lot of things that just don't flow right. The plot is good, but the pacing isn't all that great. Meryl Streep acts too 'action hero-ish' for my tastes, and considering it is her first shot at a thriller, she should have taken it slower. Like other action films, Meryl Streep just doesn't seem to understand that she isn't the one calling the shots. Kevin Bacon and John C. Reilley take on the roles of the bad guys here, but Streep doesn't know that. Bacon wasn't really good at playing bad guys yet (his later improvements with HOLLOW MAN and TRAPPED were good). Streep does not do a very good job of acting out scenes where they are going to be in danger. She's just bad at those.Joseph Mazello, however, did a fine job, after getting plenty of experience with action films from JURASSIC PARK. Director Curtis Hanson (8 MILE) does pull off another effective and well-done movie, just not as good as some of his other works. THE RIVER WILD: 3/5.
An interesting adventure's movie
posted on 29 Jan 2009Gail used to be an expert rafting. Years later, during a family excursion in a wild river, she finds out the nightmare. Two cruel bandits, in the same river, try to escape and need her to help them. The pictures of the river and the open country are magnificent and we don't really have violent scenes in this movie. I appreciated the "zoom" on the heroes' faces, as we can see their emotions and reactions. They all were good. Kevin Bacon, much younger than the experienced M. Streep stands by her equally and proves once more his great talent.
Kevin Bacon's finest performance!
posted on 24 Nov 2008When I first saw this movie, I rented it because my dad said he had saw it and he recommended it, in which I did and I was totally surprised and blown away by the performances in this movie. This movie had a decent plot about a family taking a vacation in the Rockies and happen to meet up with a friendly guy at first but when the family tries to run out on him during the trip because of a couple of conflicts, he takes matters into his own hands and takes them hostage, along for the ride. Wade (Kevin Bacon) as the bad guy scared me because you would never know what he would do next, even though he mostly focused on getting out and being cleared of trouble then killing a lot of people, like some guy on a rampage and his sidekick Terry (John C. Reilly) really was a ignoring sidekick, not much dialouge with his character but he was really a klutz in standing guard and how to control the family.The family played by Gail (Meryl Streep) the mom, Tom (David Strathairn) the dad and Roarke (Joseph Mazzello) the son showed a very good performance in this movie and had the brightest concepts of escaping danger, things from sign language to swiss army knife and to smoke signals really kept the movie alive and it was spectacular.I do recommend this movie to anyone who is a Kevin Bacon fan, I have been for a while and I love his movies, this movie is very suspenseful and will keep your heart beating to the end, It was worth renting a good adventurous thriller set in the Rockies, Just a very good 112 minutes of sitting on the edge of your seat.
There's much more beneath the surface of this story than you may expect
posted on 22 Sep 2008This movie is highly entertaining. Bacon is so mean that I sometimes also feel antipathy for the characters he plays in other films. And Meryl Streep is convincing in her first action role. The script didn't give Mazzello any great moments but he is good as ever. The only sad thing is that you always know the story will have a happy ending. But you can't blame the film for that for you would never expect that the killers win. That would be too depressing for a film made in Hollywood. And the story is depressing enough at some moments because there is a strong psychological tension and death is always threatening the family members. The duel between the mother and the killer is extremely well made. This movie is much more than you would expect from an action film. Add to that rafting scenes that are so full of action and movement that you almost get a heart attack! That is entertainment!
Psychological Thrill Ride
posted on 05 Sep 2008The adrenaline rush that comes from this movie really does not compare to many other adventure movies, in the sense that Curtis Hanson Keys into the human instinct of survival. Building upon themes found in the movie Deliverance, Hanson slowly strips away the elaborate city lives of the individual characters and sets them foth as animals in a stunningly beautiful landscape. Such a wonderful psychological experiment alone would be worth the dvd, but the scenery, and cinemetography are spectacular. What makes this movie, though, a classic, above all is the CHARACTERIZATION. The reality of this movie is brought to us by the characters. A viewer may easilly get the feeling that them or a neighbor of theirs could have easilly been put in this story and that makes you feel that much more for the characters. The fears, the paranioa, the abolute lunge for survival race not only on the screen but through your very own blood. This movie is an experience that every active mind should have the pleaure of ingulging in, and I hope that you are able to experience this classic on DVD, because it is truly a masterful creation.
Decent thriller with several good performances and terrific scenery
posted on 01 Sep 2008I watched The River Wild mainly for two reasons. The first one was incredibly talented young actor named Joseph Mazello, while the second was Kevin Bacon, also very good and underrated actor in my opinion. I expected just an average thriller or something like that but this movie managed to surpass my expectations. Though it wasn't a great or Oscar-worthy movie I found The River Wild mostly good and entertained, worth seeing movie. The story is concentrated on average dysfunctional family with workaholic father, who have almost lost a contact with his wife and two kids. They undertake a raft journey on vacation to celebrate their eldest son, Rourke birthday and in the same time trying to save their dying marriage. This at first calm and beautiful journey gets unexpectedly dangerous when the family meet on their way two strangers (played by Kevin Bacon and John C.Reilly), who also for their own reasons go to a journey with the same route. The story is not flawless and has some plot holes but overall it's not bad written. Well, maybe it's quite predictable but I don't think that such predictability harmed the movie too much. The acting overall was pretty good. To my surprise somehow happened that Meryl Streep became a weakest part in this excellent cast ensemble. I think she was a bit unconvincing as careful mother as well as a strong rafter. Another problem is that her character (Gail) is not developed as much as the movie needs it. For unknown reasons she got even a Golden Globe nomination for this movie but anyway The River Wild definitely is not among her best works. David Straithairn is much better playing Gail's husband and Roarke's father. Kevin Bacon is brilliant as evil, psychotic villain, while John C.Reilly gave decent performance of his diffident, weak-willed sidekick. And finally Joseph Mazello, the most talented actor among entire casts in the movie. His part didn't give him many opportunities to show his talent but in those short moments his acting was beautiful and he was able to overshadow others. Despite all these very good performances the most exceptional thing about The River Wild is not the good acting but a beautiful scenery and excellent cinematography that have captured it. Even only this terrific scenery, filmed somewhere in Oregon, is enough to make this movie worth seeing. It's simply beyond my words. Finally, it is worth to mention nice score, written by Jerry Goldmith, with excellent main theme.In the conclusion The River Wild is not great but quite a good movie, with good casts, acting and one of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen. My grade 7,5 or B.
scary in real life
posted on 28 Jul 2008this isnt exactly a horror film but its scary because it can really happen. Kevin Bacon is in it (one of my favourtes). He is mean and trys to capture this lady and family and they try to escape. He tried to kill them by a river, when they are camping out, and its totally freaky. I would reccommend you to see it. It is good for mostly everyone, and parents should allow it unless it might frighten a kid.
"Deliverance" meets "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle"
posted on 29 Mar 2008Meryl Streep gets a totally different kind of role in "The River Wild". She and her husband (David Strathairn) and son (Joseph Mazzello, of "Jurassic Park") go on a rafting trip and encounter some guys (Kevin Bacon and John C. Reilly) who turn out to be not what they seem.The obvious similarity is "Deliverance", but I also detected a similarity to "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle", the way that Kevin Bacon's character turns the boy against the mother. I once did a boat trip down the Snake River, and some of the rapids here look like what I remember (although the movie may have exaggerated the rapids).Overall, it's a pretty fun movie. A real jolt of nature, if I may say so. Also starring Benjamin Bratt. Director Curtis Hanson also directed "L.A. Confidential", "Wonder Boys" and "8 Mile".
title says all
posted on 11 Mar 2008The River Wild is a very entertaining and suspenceful film, even though I am not big on Meryl Streep or Mazzello aka Jurassic park boy. Kevin Bacon deserves the most praise of any of the actors in this movie, his work as Wade is classic. This movie is pretty good despite some bad choices for the roles so that is saying a lot if a film can still be good despite subpar actors. The River Wild is worth your time, 7 outta 10.
River Tamed by Lousy Script
posted on 13 Feb 2008This A-list big-budget movie is doomed by an incredibly predictable script. The premise is good. A trio of bloodthirsty bad guys go on the lam after a robbery by rafting out of the area. On a very wild and dangerous river of course. Unfortunately the bad guy who was the river guide dies prematurely so the remaining duo falls in with Meryl's family of Mom, Dad and young son. Meryl's an ex-river guide who is trying to save her marriage to wimpy architect Straihorn. Nice possibilities, heh?The problem of the script is twofold. First, the familial frictions are never explored (as it would have been nice for the bad guys to exploit them). They're never explored because once on the river Meryl's family becomes a cohesive, god-fearing slayer of evil, and the bad guys lose all grip on reality and almost beg to be found out. And secondly every thing that happens is telegraphed from a mile away. It's so bad that you actually start to believe that you've seen the movie before.Not even Streep can save this movie....only recommended for die-hard Streep or Bacon fans.
Good action, but could have been much better
posted on 06 Nov 2007Meryl Streep does an action heroine turn as Gail, a river guide in an unhappy marriage to David Sraithairn. For a change of pace, they hit the waters, where the family is forced to aid two runaway criminals (Kevin Bacon and John C. Reilly). This is a very different role for Streep, and she manages to make it fit and seems very believable. Bacon is somewhat threatening, and the river action scenes are all very good. BUT, this movie gets bogged down by the hokey plot contrivances (their dog who happens to magically appear at precise moments, Ranger Johnny (Benjamin Bratt, before Law & Order) and other plot holes. Good, but could have been a much better story.Vote: 6
So much better if Streep were not in it
posted on 27 Aug 2009If Meryl Streep were not in this movie it would have been much better. She is seriously talented but badly miscast in this role and did it indeed badly. Kevin Bacon is good as the psycho and David Strathairn is his usual excellent self in a supporting role. But we see way too much of Streep doing her "I'm a great actress so this must be good" routine dragging down the story. See Glen Close in Fatal Attraction to see a great actress working the role rather than a good actress ruining the piece as Streep does here.