Published via Ecency

(source: tmdb.org)

Hollywood likes to celebrate or, to be more precise, exploit celebration of youth. Films that deal with youth or adolescence in more sombre and darker tones are, therefore, quite rare and, unsurprisingly, usually made slightly outside the mainstream. One of those is River’s Edge, 1986 crime drama directed by Tim Hunter, also known as one of the darkest teen films ever made.

Script was written by Neal Jimenez and inspired by real life events related to 1981 murder of California teenager Marcy Renee Conrad. The plot begins near the banks of the river in small town where overgrown teenager Samson “John” Tollet (played by Daniel Roebuck) stands near the nude body of his girlfriend Jamie (played by Danyi Deats) whom he just murdered. Apparently not grasping the gravity of his deed and more concerned over inability to buy beer without ID card, Samson comes to high school and casually informs his clique of friends about murder. At first they don’t believe him, so he brings them to river and shows the body. His friends are too shocked to react in any meaningful way and don’t know what they should do. The only exception is hyperactive Layne (played by Crispin Glover) who argues that, since they can’t help their friend Jamie, they should help their friend John escape the prison. His attempt to hide the body fails and he later tries to shelter John in a home of Feck (played by Dennis Hopper), one-legged former biker who provides the clique with cheap drugs. While much more quiet, Matt (played by Keanu Reeves) is affected with Jamie’s death enough to inform the police, much to displeasure of his 12-year old brother Tim (played Joshua John Miller) who considers Matt to be a snitch.

When River’s Edge first appeared in cinemas, many critics were describing it as “horror film”. While it lacks the conventional ingredients of that particular genre, it is easy to imagine how disturbing this film looked in its depiction of a generation that was supposed to be America’s and world’s future. Teen characters in this film are totally clueless about what to do and unable to make any meaningful decisions, even those based on common sense and even less so when they have to differentiate right from wrong. Their lives, due to neglect of their selfish or dysfunctional parents, are framed by sensationalist media or popular culture, filled by nihilism and emptiness which can be filled only by rampant alcohol and drug abuse, sex or, in some cases, acts of sudden and irrational violence. While, at first glance, this might look like condemnation of what would later be known as Generation X, River’s Edge tends to put at least some of the blame on previous generation, namely Boomers. They are represented by two very different characters who, each in his way, symbolises 1960s. One is Mr. Burkwhaite (played by Jim Metzler), high school teacher who used to be political radical and who desperately and unsuccessfully tries to spirit of rebellion and non-conformism among his apathetic pupils, while refusing to admit that his generation brought Reagan and increased likelihood of nuclear annihilation which some of the characters use as an excuse for not thinking about tomorrow. On the other side is Fleck as textbook example of “1960s relic”, in some ways alternative version of the iconic character Hopper played in Easy Rider and here reduced to pathetic wreck who doesn’t leave his home in an attempt evade reality, preferring the company of plastic doll that reminds me of girlfriend whom he might have killed many years ago; the greatest irony in this film that Fleck in the end turns out to be the closest thing to moral axis of the film.

Director Tim Hunter had relatively low budget for this film, but this was more than compensated by formidable cast, made of young actors, including some that would become great stars. Among those best known is, of course, Keanu Reeves, who plays what is arguably the closest thing to conventional protagonist; his character, despite indulging in various self-destructive activities like his peers, ultimately does the right thing, but hints that this decision was as impulsive as John’s decision to kill his girlfriend. Character of Matt, despite being involved in serious police investigation and having his life in danger, still finds time for a romance with Jamie’s friend Clarissa (played by Ione Skye Leitch). His performance is, like with many Reeves’ roles, quite restrained, at least compared with hyperactive Crispin Glover as his amphetamine-fuelled friend whose harebrained scheme to protect the murderer seems to be motivated with desire to give some meaning to his own dead-end life. Daniel Roebuck is also effective as menacing at yet not too bright killer, while Joshua John Miller plays the most evil character of the film, psychopath whose wickedness stands out because of his young age.

Despite strong initial impact, River’s Edge has became relatively obscure in subsequent years. This might be explained with it being a very good film, but far from perfect. While Tim Hunter directed it a well and kept good pace, there were slight issues with pacing, as well as some slightly confusing scenes. There are issues with unnecessary tonal shifts, and they are made worse by score by German composer Jürgen Kniper, which is at times too light-hearted for this sort of film or at odds with songs by Slayer that make the rest of the soundtrack. Some of today’s viewers might complain about the scenes featuring nude Danyi Deats as too exploitative or in bad taste. However, even with all its faults it deserves a recommendation, and not only for devout Keanu Reeves fans.

RATING: 7/10 (++)