The River Wild (1994)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Curtis Hanson

Writer (WGA):

Denis O'Neill (written by)

Release Date:

30 September 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Tagline:

The vacation is over

Plot:

Meryl Streep takes on a pair of armed killers while navigating a spectacularly violent river.

Plot Keywords:

River | Rafting | White Water Rafting | Knife | Mother Son Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Meryl Streep	...	Gail Hartman
Kevin Bacon	...	Wade
David Strathairn	...	Tom Hartman
Joseph Mazzello	...	Roarke Hartman
John C. Reilly	...	Terry
Benjamin Bratt	...	Ranger Johnny
Elizabeth Hoffman	...	Gail's Mother
William Lucking	...	Frank
Stephanie Sawyer	...	Willa Hartman
Victor Galloway	...	Gail's Father (as Victor H. Galloway)
Diane Delano	...	Ranger
Thomas F. Duffy	...	Ranger
Paul Cantelon	...	Violinist
Glenn Morshower	...	Policeman

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence and threatening moments.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | American Sign Language

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo | DTS

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:12 | South Korea:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Peru:14 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

David Foster Productions

Trivia:

An exhausted Meryl Streep balked when director Curtis Hanson asked her to shoot one more scene before filming finished for the end of the day, however, she decided to attempt it. Swept off the raft, she was in real danger of drowning before she was rescued. Returning upriver, she told a pale and shaking Hanson that "in the future, when I say I can't do something, I think we should believe me." Hanson hastily agreed.

Goofs:

Continuity: Raft goes through huge rapid, drops over the falls and should be full of water and have to be bailed. A minute later when the raft is lifted by the cable it is dry.

Quotes:

Policeman: What happened?
Roarke: My mom got us down the river.
Policeman: How about your dad? What did he do?
Roarke: He saved our lives.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: Run Away, Little Boy (#2.9)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Dollar Bill

Very entertaining and well made.

I've must have seen this film about 20 times, Not because It is such a quality movie, but mainly because it's so fun!!! I mean, the script could have been better and less predictable, but the psychological battle between Gail and Waid is always fascinating. With all due respect to Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon, the one who really steals the show is young (at that time anyway) Joseph Mazzello as Roarke. I've been following this young amazing actor for years and it's amazing how a kid who is basically my age (born in 1983) can act better than most adults. He is the best in this film. The scenery is great too. Watch this film. It's not perfect, but it's very fun and interesting!