1986 Directed by Tim Hunter
A group of high school friends discover that they are in the presence of a killer. One of them, Samson, has murdered his girlfriend Jamie. He brags to his friends about killing her, and when they discover he is telling the truth, their reactions vary.
Crispin Glover Keanu Reeves Ione Skye Daniel Roebuck Dennis Hopper Taylor Negron Joshua John Miller Roxana Zal Josh Richman Phillip Brock Tom Bower Constance Forslund Leo Rossi Jim Metzler Tammy L. Smith Danyi Deats Yuzo Nishihara Christopher Peters Richard Richcreek Maeve Odum Francis De L'Etanche du Bois Michael Hungerford
Instinto sádico, Messer am Ufer Das
Underdogs and coming of age Intense violence and sexual transgression school, teacher, student, classroom or classmates teenager, school, friendship, funny or nerds drugs, violence, crime, gritty or cops surfing, teenager, friendship, adolescents or kids sexuality, sex, disturbed, unconventional or challenging Show All…
One of my favorite style of acting is “how did they not fire this guy?” and Crispin Glover gives one of the genre’s touchstone performances in this. That sounds like an insult but he kicks ass.
This film has stuck in my head since I first watched it. It cuts deeper than I realized at the time. The dysfunction of the characters builds a picture of trauma, mental illness, violence, poverty, lust, and suburbia that wants to connect dots between them and the legacy of the collective trauma of the Vietnam War, the failings of capitalist patriarchy (though never fully explored or explicit, evident in the families we see), and the need to numb it all. Growing up in a small-town void where culture, family, and any semblance of happiness is a myth for the working class fucks just trying to survive. The ideas of innocence and coming-of-age are dissolved in the loveless communities and cycles…
"You didn't have to call me a stupid bitch."
"You were driving right past us, we had to yell something."
"I got a name you know. You're lucky I didn't just drive right home."
"Okay, okay, okay. I'm sorry, Clarissa, but you've got to understand that in a time like this where every fucking second counts, a man can't waste his time choosing words."
Crispin Glover in this film is pretty much a drinking game waiting to happen. I want his "gahddaaahmnaaht" as a ringtone, I broke into giggles several times during the film. Luckily, I read this excellent article on the California Shift in American pop-punk recently, and I don't know if that's what's happening in Glover's accent, but…
Dennis Hopper and Crispin Glover: Just a couple of guys, hanging out with a sex doll, listening to Slayer tunes, no big deal.
In spite of being a vastly overlooked teen crime drama from the late 80’s, River’s Edge boasts a star studded cast that give extremely strong performances which results in some wonderfully rich characters that really amplify the strong narrative.
I went in with relatively no expectations, knowing nothing more than the plot synopsis and that a youthful Keanu Reeves and Crispin Glover are featured as leads.
Post viewing I was absolutely blown away with what I’d just watched. To start I have to give props to Keanu Reeves. From what I know this is the first theatrical film Keanu was a main lead in, and right from the launch of his career he effortlessly oozes charm and charisma. His character…
It's weird that the director admits on the audio commentary that he told Crispin Glover that the movie was a slapstick comedy "as a goof."
Back when Keanu played Ted,
Before his bus had sped,
He and Crispin Glover,
Tried to uncover,
What goes on in Dennis Hopper's head.
Is Crispin Glover the best or worst part of River’s Edge? He is all over the place. He is one loco fella.
No matter your opinion of Glover, River’s Edge is a must see movie. It is a tale of a teenage wasteland. Is it the surroundings that are fading away or the characters themselves?
Keanu is on fire. Dennis Hopper is hopped up on some strong drugs, and Joshua John Miller’s performance is one of the most underrated for a child actor in recent memory.
River’s Edge would make a great double feature with Over the Edge. Tim Hunter directed one and wrote the other. Both films do great at exploring young angst in a society that doesn’t give a damn what they think.
What a haunting film River’s Edge is. Check it out!
