River's Edge (1986)

August 8, 2022 8:10 AM

Teenage burnout Samson (Daniel Roebuck) has murdered his girlfriend and left her naked body lying on the bank of a river just outside their small California town. He not only doesn't run away, he brings his friends to gawk at her dead body. Speed freak Layne (Crispin Glover) tries to force the teens' silence to protect their friend, but conscience is gnawing at the others -- particularly Matt (Keanu Reeves) and Clarissa (Ione Skye Leitch), who want to go to the police.

Also starring Dennis Hopper and Roxana Zal. Directed by Tim Hunter from a screenplay by Neal Jimenez.

Roger Ebert: This is the best analytical film about a crime since The Onion Field and In Cold Blood.

88% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently streaming in the US on Amazon Prime, DirecTV, Epix, Kanopy, and Paramount Plus. Also available for digital rental on several outlets. JustWatch listing.

posted by DirtyOldTown (7 comments total)

This is a dark, dark film, in no small part because it's based on a true story, and in a lot of ways is the direct antithesis to every John Hughes teen film. It's a good movie, with great actors--it's basically Keanu Reeves' breakout film--but I'd put it in the same category as every Darren Aronofsky film that I've seen: a good movie that I really don't want to have to sit through again.
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:33 AM on August 8, 2022 [10 favorites]

"motherfucker! food eater!"
posted by supermedusa at 9:32 AM on August 8, 2022 [4 favorites]

"motherfucker! food eater!"

Second best line from a movie ever. The first being, "no but your face is" from Valley Girl.
posted by NoMich at 10:56 AM on August 8, 2022 [1 favorite]

We used to constantly quote "Feck...FECK...It's me, Lane. C'mon Feck!"
posted by rhizome at 2:17 PM on August 8, 2022 [1 favorite]

Saw this first run when it came out. For me the standout dialogue is this exchange between Reeves and Skye after they've had sex.

"How do you feel?"
"Like I've been dipped in used cooking oil."

And of course Dennis Hopper's "I wonder if there's any beer in that can."
posted by dobbs at 6:18 PM on August 10, 2022 [1 favorite]

Oh, and those who like it should check out The Waterdance, a true story by the same writer.
posted by dobbs at 6:21 PM on August 10, 2022

I just remember this interview with Keanu at the time this came out, where I think the host asked him if he had any favorite lines from the film. He started one, then stopped himself because he realized he couldn't say the swear word on television. Then started a second one. Same problem. Then a third. Same problem. Then a fourth. Same problem.

Finally someone in the audience shouted out his line "Poke her with a stick!" and he pointed and said "yeah, that."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:29 PM on February 5