While noir stories first emerged with dime store detective novels in the 1940s, the genre has proven to be far more fungible than its origins suggest. Not every film noir has to be set in a sprawling urban metroplex and star eitherSam SpadeorPhillip Marlowe. In fact, the noir genre has often succeeded when it incorporates elements of horror, action, science fiction, and even comedy. In one of the more creative reimaginings of the genre, the 1986 crime dramaRiver’s Edgecombined a gripping murder mystery witha dark coming of age story.
With a cast that includes a youngKeanu ReevesandCrispin Glover, it may be easy to assume thatRiver’s Edgeis a straightforward teen dramain the vein ofJohn Hughes’ films. The truth couldn’t be further;River’s Edgeis a dark exploration of guilt, inherent violence, and existentialism that uses the noir genre to show its characters' transition from adolescence to adulthood. Although it’s focused on the ramifications of a brutal killing,River’s Edgeinverts the narrative of a noir thriller with a bold approach, byrevealing the culprit at the very beginning.
River’s Edge
A group of teenagers confronts a shocking crisis when one of their own commits a crime. As they grapple with whether to conceal or reveal the truth, their choices expose the depths of their characters and the disaffection of their generation.
What Is ‘River’s Edge’ About?
Set within a small town in Northern California,River’s Edgeopens by revealing that the teenager John (Daniel Roebuck) has murdered his girlfriend Jamie (Danyi Deats). His actions are observed by a young boy Tim (Joshua John Miller), Matt’s (Reeves) younger brother, who reacts to the murder with chilling apathy. The revelation of the culprit does not preclude the film from having tension, asRiver’s Edgedeals with the anxiety that comes after witnessing an act of violence.River’s Edgegoes a step further bychallenging viewers’ instincts as the characters never react or respond in the way the audience would expect. For instance, though John confesses to his friends that he’s killed Jamie, they initially do not believe him, dismissing it as a joke. When John then takes his friends to see her body, their reactions vary from apathy to mild worry, to even sinister amusement from Layne (Glover) who becomes preoccupied with ensuring John never gets caught by the police. Fear of authority is present in many film noir projects, but it’s particularly relevant inRiver’s Edgeconsidering the age of the protagonists. As they understand the responsibility that comes with their knowledge, Matt and his friends areforced to grow up very fast.
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Even though it’s expressly revealed that John is guilty,River’s Edgeasks deeper questions about the motivation of the crime.There’s little background given about John’s relationship with his circle of friends prior, but it’s implied that they’ve come to accept his weird behavior as normal. This gives Matt a sense of guilt, as he feels that by tolerating John’s activity, he somehow led him to kill Jamie. While he’s not often praised for his versatility,Reeves gives a haunting performanceas a teeanger forced to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders. The cold, detached manner in which he now has to view the world resembles the cynical way in which noir detectives tend to operate in mystery films.
‘River’s Edge’ Explores the Dark Side of Americana
Although it doesn’t share the urban setting of most classical mysteries,River’s Edgeis able to use its isolated environment to examine loneliness.The Northern California community in which the film takes place seems divorced from the rest of society, as everyone seems to know each other and has no interest in going anywhere else. Jamie’s murder serves as an inflection point that forces Matt to consider what his community’s “values” really are. With the lackluster reactions to the murder of a teenage girl, there’s no telling what otherdarkersecrets the town may hold.The best film noir movieshave a psychological element that spans beyond just one mystery. InRiver’s Edge, John’s actions show the dark side of Americana.
Director Tim Hunter creates visual parallels with film noir featuresby transforming the small town into a grim, empty wasteland. The nighttime photography is stunning in particular, as the visual gloominess reflects the same foreboding secrecy asLos Angeles does inChinatown. These moments serve as the perfect way forRiver’s Edgeto cast its coming-of-age elements in a different light; while Matt’s intimate encounter with Clarissa (Ione Skye) would be portrayed as exciting in a straightforward teen film, their sexual liaison is undercut by the tragedy that they are recovering from. In Matt’s mind, this may be the last moment in which he can truly appreciate the joys of youth. The film also indicates that John isn’t the only dangerous figure in their community, as the presence ofDennis Hopperas a complex but ultimately violent marijuana dealer, Feck, enhances the intensity of the situation.
‘River’s Edge’ Leaves the Audience With Questions
River’s Edgestill follows the noir narrative model, as much ofthe film focuses on the police dissecting evidencefrom the crime scene and tracking John’s whereabouts. This gives both the characters and audience a unique window into the investigative process, as they observe the common mistakes and red herrings that occur during a murder case. Beyond showing the incompetence of law enforcement, the investigative storyline serves as a constant reminder of the violent images in the film’s opening moments.
What’s most ironic is that by the end ofRiver’s Edge, there’s stillan element of ambiguity to John’s motives,as his motivations are never expressly explained. The film spends time showing how society reacts to a gruesome murder, yet only briefly gets to touch on why the crime was committed in the first place. By merging the uncertainty of a coming-of-age narrative with the structure of a murder mystery,River’s Edgebecomes a profound meditation on why violence continues to persist in society. It is no wonder the movie drew critical acclaim upon release.
River’s Edgeis currently available to stream on Kanopy in the U.S.
WATCH ON KANOPY
