Edward Burns, Jennifer Ehle, Thomas Gibson, Rachelle Lefevre, Ross Petty

Abel Grey is sent to investigate the death of a boy from an exclusive local school, who is found floating in the river. Fearing scandal, the school insists it was suicide. But after discovering from t...( read more  read more... )he boy's girlfriend, Carlin, that he was being badly bullied, Abel suspects that a dangerous schoolboy initiation has gone horribly wrong, and he secretly solicits the help of a sympathetic teacher, Betsy. His boss warns him off the investigation, as the school is a generous benefactor to the police benevolent fund. Abel, however, cannot let the case go, not only because his own brother committed suicide years before but also it seems that the spirit of the dead boy is leaving them clues as to what really happened that night.

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41% liked it

3,090 ratings

R, 1 hr. 39 min.

Directed by: Nick Willing

Release Date: October 21, 2005

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DVD Release Date: January 24, 2006

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Stats: 141 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (141)


  • March 27, 2009
    good movie..
  • January 22, 2010
    The River King is based off the novel of Alice Hoffman. The movie is about a detective Abel Grey who is played by Edward Burns. He is sent to investigate the death of a student. The police department believes that the death of the student is a suicide. But he believes that studen...( read more)ts death is not. The movie starts off slow but starts to pick up some speed towards the middle. I thought that Edward Burns did a good job in the movie but even he can't save the movie. I thought the was good until I got to the end of the movie. The movie is not going to be for everyone and because of the way the movie ends I can't recommend the movie to anyone.
  • December 26, 2009
    Solid filmmaking and an interesting premise drive this small mystery but a lack of a strong script hurts. Burns is good but there is so much started without a place to go.
  • December 19, 2009
    .....highly NOT recommended
  • November 17, 2009
    The River King is another star turn by Edward Burns. An excellent mystery told with insight into character and a great deal of atmosphere. There were some creepy scenes that made me fear for a while that this film was going to disappoint me by offering a ghostly solution -- so di...( read more)sappointing in a mystery. But the creepy elements wound up fitting in perfectly with a realistic mystery story.
  • August 18, 2009
    it was good, not great.. jumped around with plot
  • July 18, 2009
    I think it's interesting to watch.
  • March 3, 2009
    well umn just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is an ok movie...its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie..i think that ed burns, jennifer ehle, thomas gibson, ross petty, rachelle lefevre play good parts throughout this movie...i think that t...( read more)his is a freaky movie 2 watch...i think that the director of this Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Drama movie had done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie its quite a freaky movie 2 watch...its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie,...its a good movie 2 watch
  • March 3, 2009
    I felt NO chemistry between Ed 7 leading lady. Very poor casting in a mediocre adaptation of a great Alice Hoffman novel. Ed turns in his usual hard guy performance, & newcomer Rachelle LeFevre was great.
  • February 7, 2009
    its an ok film but forgetable.

    it has not the element that would give it one more star

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The River King Trivia


  • The movie "Stand By Me" starring River Phoenix was based on which Stephen King short story?  Answer »
  • The soundtrack: "Christmas Is All Around" "All You Need Is Love" "Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye)" "All I Want For Christmas Is You" "River" "Songbird" "White Christmas" "Silent Night" "Good King Wenceslas" "Jump (For My Love)"   Answer »

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