River's Edge Movie Review

River's Edge was one of the most disturbing movies of 1987. Tim Hunter's study of how a high school gang reacts to the murder of one of their friends showed a conscience-free group, easily led by the always stoned Crispin Glover. The only one with any feeling for the dead girl seems to be Keanu Reeves, who went on to deliver impressive performances in Permanent Record and Dangerous Liaisons. Dennis Hopper, who co-stars as a lunatic (again), also appeared in 1955's Rebel Without a Cause, directed by Nicholas Ray. The original ad for Rebel could describe both films: “Teenage terror torn from today's headlines!”

1987 (R) 99m/C Keanu Reeves, Crispin Glover, Daniel Roebuck, Joshua Miller, Dennis Hopper, Ione Skye, Roxana Zal, Tom Bower, Constance Forslund, Leo Rossi, Jim Metzler; D: Tim Hunter; W: Neal Jimenez; C: Frederick Elmes; M: Jurgen Knieper. Independent Spirit Awards ‘88: Best Film, Best Screenplay; Sundance Film Festival ‘87: Special Jury Prize. VHS, LV, 8mm, Closed Caption