Suspicious River (2000)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Lynne Stopkewich

Writers:

Laura Kasischke (novel)
Lynne Stopkewich (written by)

Release Date:

8 August 2001 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Deeper than you ever feared.

Plot:

A young married woman (Parker) sells her body, not just for money, to guests at the motel where she works as a receptionist.

Plot Keywords:

Motel | Receptionist | River | Motel Sex | Group Sex

Awards:

3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Molly Parker	...	Leila Murray
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Gary Jensen
Katie Keating	...	Young Girl (as Mary Kate Welsh)
Joel Bissonnette	...	Rick Schmidt
Deanna Milligan	...	Millie
Sarah-Jane Redmond	...	Bonnie (as Sarah Jane Redmond)
Norman Armour	...	Jack
Byron Lucas	...	Uncle Andy
Michael Shanks	...	Ball Cap Man
Paul Jarrett	...	Rob
Don S. Davis	...	Golf Shirt Man
Jay Brazeau	...	Suitcase Man
Bruno Verdoni	...	Ralph
Ingrid Tesch	...	Gary's Wife
John R. Taylor	...	Old Man
Gillian Barber	...	Mrs. Schmidt
Bill Dow	...	Mr. Schmidt
Jenn Griffin	...	Pony
Dean Wray	...	Open your eyes Man
Sean Campbell	...	Open your mouth Man

Directed by
Lynne Stopkewich

Writing credits
Laura Kasischke		(novel)
Lynne Stopkewich		(written by)

Produced by
Raymond Massey	....	co-producer
Hamish McAlpine	....	executive producer
Michael Okulitch	....	producer
Erik Stensrud	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Don MacDonald		(original score)

Cinematography by
Gregory Middleton		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Allan Lee

Casting by
Corinne Clark
Johanna Ray

Production Design by
Don Macaulay		(as Don MacAulay)

Art Direction by
Ray Lai

Set Decoration by
Johanna Mazur

Costume Design by
Sheila White

Makeup Department
Hayley Miller	....	makeup artist
Hayley Miller	....	makeup: additional photography
Lee Novak	....	hair stylist
Jake Surette	....	assistant hair stylist
Jake Surette	....	assistant makeup artist
Jake Surette	....	hair: additional photography

Production Management
Jeanie Lamb	....	production manager: additional photography
Daniel Mikolay	....	post-production supervisor (as Daniel A. Mikolay)
Louise Valgardson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Barry	....	first assistant director
Silver Butler	....	third assistant director
Kevin Fair	....	first assistant director: additional photography
Berengaria Tomkies	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Sheri Armstrong	....	set dresser
Mitchell Baker	....	construction coordinator (as Mitch Baker)
Dean Barker	....	property master
Richard D. Beers	....	carpenter
Riley Benard	....	set dresser/assistant props
John T. Boe	....	set dresser (as John Boe)
Annie Bort	....	set dresser
Jennifer Browning	....	set dresser
Raul Casillas	....	props: additional photography
Raul Casillas	....	set decorator: additional photography
Douglas Cook	....	greensman
J.P. Florentin	....	set dresser (as Jean-Pierre Florentine)
Leah Gejdos	....	lead dresser
Stephanie Knuppel	....	set dresser
Sasha Kos	....	carpenter
Gordon Bud Lancaster	....	head painter (as Gordon Lancaster)
Lin-Li-Anne Lee	....	set dresser (as Lin-Li Anne Lee)
Meesoo Lee	....	set dresser
Janet McIlwain	....	set dresser
Jennifer Rafalski	....	set dresser
Lael Sleep	....	assistant property master
Lael Sleep	....	on-set dresser
James Summers	....	greensman
Ken Watson	....	carpenter
Andrea Zink	....	assistant set decorator

Sound Department
Thor Andersen	....	boom operator (as Thor Anderson)
Rick Bal	....	production sound mixer
Brian Campbell	....	dialogue/adr editor
Jonas Crawley	....	foley recordist
Dario DiSanto	....	foley editor (as Dario Desanto)
Lisa Doyle	....	backgrounds editor
Lisa Doyle	....	sound effects editor
James Genn	....	sound designer
Jeff Hamon	....	adr mixer
Brad Hillman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Johnny Ludgate	....	backgrounds editor
Johnny Ludgate	....	sound effects editor
Bill Mellow	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brian Ruryk	....	assistant sound editor
Paul A. Sharpe	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Paul Sharpe)
Shane Shemko	....	foley artist
Janice Thompson	....	assistant sound editor
Kerry Uchida	....	backgrounds editor
Kerry Uchida	....	sound effects editor
Cam Wagner	....	foley artist
James Wallace	....	backgrounds editor
James Wallace	....	sound effects editor
Kirby Jinnah	....	adr & dialogue editor (uncredited)
David Yonson	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Bruce Woloshyn	....	digital compositing artist

Stunts
Trish Schill	....	stunt double: Millie
Melissa R. Stubbs	....	stunt coordinator (as Melissa Stubbs)
Melissa R. Stubbs	....	stunt double: Leila (as Melissa Stubbs)

Camera and Electrical Department
Dave Askey	....	key grip (as David Askey)
Jesse Deacon	....	best boy electric (as Jessie Deacon)
Jesse Deacon	....	gaffer: additional photography (as Jessie Deacon)
John Dryden	....	grip
J. Norman Earle	....	best boy (as Norm Earle)
Shane Finley	....	generator operator: additional photography
Kimberly French	....	additional still photographer
John Robert Graham	....	grip (as John Graham)
Kevin Hall	....	director of photography: additional photography
James S. Harvey	....	lamp operator (as James Harvey)
Cam Hayduk	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Cam Hayuk)
Stewart Henshaw	....	lamp operator (as Stuart Henshaw)
Tyler Hepple	....	lamp operator
Kharen Hill	....	gallery photographer
John-David Hutchison	....	gaffer (as JD Hutchison)
Wynne Keing	....	second assistant camera
Wynne Keing	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Lane Koch	....	second assistant camera: additional photography
Francis Kramer	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Robin Lindala	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Robin Lindala	....	second assistant camera
Steve Machan	....	dolly grip (as Stephen K. Mackay)
Heather MacNeill	....	camera department trainee (as Heather Macneil)
Rietta Martell	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
Rod Mawson	....	first assistant camera
Rod Mawson	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
Gregory Middleton	....	camera operator
Doug Mitarewski	....	grip
Jeremy Nitsch	....	gaffer: additional photography
Jeremy Nitsch	....	grip: additional photography
Brian Pearson	....	director of photography: additional photography
Diyah Pera	....	still photographer
Dorian Perodie	....	best boy grip: additional photography
Marlo Rush	....	generator operator
Jane Smither	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
Jared Spencer	....	gaffer: additional photography (as Jarod Spencer)
Randy Stamhuis	....	key grip: additional photography (as Randy Stamhius)
Michael Wale	....	camera operator
Michael Wale	....	camera operator: second unit
Michael Wale	....	director of photography: additional photography
Adrian Wilcocks	....	best boy (as Adrian Willcocks)

Casting Department
Andrea Brown	....	extras casting
Mary Jane Fendler	....	casting assistant: US
Jennifer Page	....	casting associate: Canada

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tisha Fontaine	....	wardrobe assistant
Michelle Hunter	....	costume: additional photography
Robert Jezsik	....	assistant costume designer (as Rob Jezsik)
Tania Kranz	....	costume set supervisor
Christine Kunicki	....	costume set supervisor

Editorial Department
David Armstrong	....	color timer (as Dave Armstrong)
Ross Ferguson	....	first assistant editor
Thor Roos	....	color timer: negative to digital transfer
Tom Svab	....	additional assistant editor

Music Department
James Genn	....	supervising music editor
James Kaufmann	....	musician: drums
Hayley Kervel	....	vocalist
Kim Kuzma	....	vocalist
Peggy Lee	....	musician: cello
Don MacDonald	....	musician: keyboards
Brian Newcomb	....	musician: bass (as Brian Newcombe)
Lee Preston	....	recording engineer
Robbie Steininger	....	musician: guitars
Rich Walters	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Ron Buyck	....	driver (as Ronnie Buyck)
Dave Byerley	....	driver: cast
Dean Fitzpatrick	....	driver
Dean Fitzpatrick	....	transportation co-captain
David Hadley	....	transport: additional photography (as Dave Hadley)
Gregory Lavier	....	driver: cast (as Gregory E. Lavier)
Oscar Lucchetta	....	driver
Court Macmillan	....	transportation captain
Arthur Mondini	....	picture car wrangler
Laurie Morris	....	transportation coordinator
Lindsay Morris	....	driver
Bert Prevost	....	driver
Peter Road	....	driver: cast

Other crew
Renee Bella	....	location production assistant
Ari Ben Ron	....	craft service
Ari Ben Ron	....	first aid
Carmen Bohemier	....	assistant production coordinator
Terry Brooks	....	location scout
Misha Bukowski	....	set production assistant
Matthew Cervi	....	office production assistant
Debbie Coe	....	head animal wrangler
Michael Collins	....	key location production assistant
Mary Downe	....	tutor
Jessica Fraser	....	epk crew
John Frizzell	....	story editor
Michael Gazetas	....	location manager
Michael Gazetas	....	locations: additional photography
Stuart Giles	....	chef
Ron Gray	....	craft service: additional photography (as Ron Grey)
Ron Gray	....	first aid: additional photography (as Ron Grey)
Ingrid Haring	....	office production assistant
Gary Hawes	....	location production assistant
Paul Jasper	....	wrangler
Darren Kaliciak	....	assistant to producers
Una Knox	....	epk crew
Jedrzej Kowalski	....	assistant location manager (as Jendrek Kowalski)
Christopher McDonell	....	location scout (as Chris Mcdonell)
Kenneth Meisenbacher	....	location scout (as Ken Meisenbachar)
Bernadette Meyers	....	production coordinator
Patrick Mokrane	....	production accountant
Keli Moore	....	trainee assistant location manager
Mario Paolinelli	....	dialogue: Italian
Pepe Pico	....	stand-in: Mr. Rennie (as Pepe Picco)
Dave Rempel	....	wrangler
Tony Rosmini	....	assistant chef
Elie Roth	....	wrangler
Nicole Rudell	....	stand-in: Ms. Parker
Sabrina Sdrakas	....	script supervisor
Sabrina Sdrakas	....	script supervisor: additional photography
Michele Lee Shellenberg	....	assistant production accountant (as Michele Lee)
Kirk N. Smallman	....	office production assistant (as Kirk Smallman)
Scott Smith	....	epk crew
Gregory Wild	....	assistant to director (as Greg Wild)

Thanks
Ric Arboit	....	acknowledgment: for Nettwerk Records
Rob Brady	....	many thanks
Jennifer Brooks	....	many thanks
Bill Caswell	....	many thanks
Jennifer Clement	....	many thanks
Mary Daigle	....	many thanks
James Dixon	....	many thanks
Robert Dyck	....	many thanks (as Rob Dyck)
Cassian Elwes	....	many thanks: The William Morris Agency
Dean English	....	many thanks
Vincent Gale	....	many thanks
Thomas Grimme	....	many thanks
Elizabeth Hodgson	....	many thanks
Chris Jaksa	....	many thanks
Ella Juralowicz	....	many thanks (as Elizabeth Juralowicz)
Kara Ko	....	many thanks
Cary Lalonde	....	many thanks
Joseph Lankford	....	many thanks
Ken Macdonald	....	many thanks
Jessica Mckee	....	many thanks
Andrew Mondia	....	many thanks
Enuka Okuma	....	many thanks (as Enuka Okena)
Mike Olsen	....	many thanks
Jon Ornoy	....	many thanks (as John Ornoy)
Alexandra Pacheco	....	many thanks
Morris Panych	....	many thanks
Ivan Petrosovic	....	many thanks
Rick Podd	....	many thanks
Debbie Podowski	....	many thanks (as Deb Pedowski)
Michael Potkins	....	many thanks
Lee Purcell	....	many thanks
Kryshan Randel	....	many thanks
Peter Roeck	....	many thanks
Rena Ronson	....	many thanks: The William Morris Agency
Gabrielle Rose	....	many thanks
John Santics	....	many thanks
Stephanie Scott	....	many thanks
Bruce Spangler	....	many thanks
Alexandria Stuart	....	acknowledgment: for Nettwerk Records
Michelle Throughton	....	many thanks
Ian Tracey	....	many thanks
Tom Vogt	....	many thanks
Yukio Yamada	....	many thanks

Production Companies

• Okulitch-Pederson Company
• Suspicious Films

Distributors

• Alta Classics S.L. Unipersonal (Spain)
• Beyond Films
• Key Films Distributors Ltd. (Italy)
• Motion International
• Palisades Tartan (2000) (USA) (all media)
• Sagittaire Films (France)
• TLA Releasing (2004-????) (USA) (DVD)
• TVA Films (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
• Tartan Video USA

Special Effects

• Rainmaker Digital Pictures (digital effects)

Other Companies

• Al Sens Animation Ltd.  tail credits photography
• Al Silverman and the Background  walla artists (as Al Silverman & The Background)
• Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)  with the assistance of (as the Government of Canada - Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit Program)
• Command Post Toybox  telecine dailies (as Command Post / Toybox West)
• Critic's Choice  catering (as Critics Choice)
• DGC  acknowledgment (as The Directors Guild of Canada - British Columbia District Council)
• Film Effects  titles and opticals
• Fujifilm Canada  acknowledgment (as Fujifilm)
• Greenhouse Studios  original score recorded at
• Heenan Blaikie Lawyers  legal services (as Heenan Blaikie)
• I.A.T.S.E. Local 669  acknowledgment (as I.A.T.S.E. 669 International Photographers)
• I.A.T.S.E. Local 891  acknowledgment (as I.A.T.S.E. 891 Motion Picture Technicians)
• Jones Brown Insurance  insurance services by (as Jones Brown & Associates Limited)
• Kinowelt International  many thanks (as Kinowelt)
• Lewis Horwitz Organization, The  production financing provided by (A division of Southern Pacific Bank)
• Motion Bond Picture Company, The  completion guarantee by (as The Motion Picture Bond Company Inc.)
• National Bank of Canada  production financing provided by (as The National Bank of Canada)
• Original Conforming Services  negative cutter
• Panavision Canada  acknowledgment (as Panavision®)
• Post Modern Sound  ADR recording facility
• Province of British Columbia Production Services Tax Credit  with the participation of
• S.L. Feldman & Associates  music consultant
• Sharpe Sound Studios  audio post production
• TVA International  made with the financial participation of (as TVA international)
• Union of B.C. Performers  acknowledgment
• Union of B.C. Performers  production made possible with the generous support of the membership of
• William F. White International  acknowledgment (as William F. White Limited)
• William Morris Agency (WMA)  many thanks (as The William Morris Agency)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content including sexual violence, and language.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Australia:MA | France:-12 | Italy:VM14 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Okulitch-Pederson Company

Soundtrack:

Don't Forget

Edgy, Deep Film

I read quite a few reviews here before I opted to buy Suspicious River. I had heard quite a bit about it while it was filming, but then was a bit put off on actually buying it. I finally did and am glad I did.

I've become a fan of Canadian film the last few years and find that many of them could be considered 'disturbing' by some. I didn't find Suspicious River all that disturbing, but an interesting view of a young woman fighting her demons. Certainly this film was no more disturbing than, say, Crash or The Sweet Hereafter.

I thought the film was extremely well done. Both Parker and Rennie did justice to their roles. I never considered Parker's lack of emotion to be a flaw, but an integral part of her character.

Probably a bit too edgy for mainstream audiences, with its long silences and scenery shots, but for me, it all enhanced the mood of the film.

I've found I really enjoy the smaller scale, more character driven films by Canadian filmmakers. It's also fun, since the pool of Canadian actors is much smaller than in the US and therefore, you get to see actors playing a multitude, very different parts.

I enjoyed the film very much.