The River Wild (1994)

55% of critics liked it
(29 reviews)
49% of users liked it
(45,588 ratings)

In a change-of-pace role designed to prove that she could carry high-concept genre films as well as character-driven dramas, Meryl Streep headlined this fast-paced adventure as Gail, a whitewater rafting guide. For a vacation, Gail is accompanying her son Roarke (Joseph Mazzello) and workaholic… More In a change-of-pace role designed to prove that she could carry high-concept genre films as well as character-driven dramas, Meryl Streep headlined this fast-paced adventure as Gail, a whitewater rafting guide. For a vacation, Gail is accompanying her son Roarke (Joseph Mazzello) and workaholic husband Tom (David Strathairn) on a river trip. Gail and Tom are experiencing marital troubles and contemplating divorce, but their problems take a back seat when they encounter some menacing rafters led by Wade (Kevin Bacon). After Tom saves Wade from drowning, they discover that the men are murderous fugitives using the river as an escape route. Kidnapped by the killers, Gail's forced to leave her husband stranded on shore and guide the villains through the "Gauntlet," a raging confluence of rivers that few rafters ever survive. Meanwhile, Tom proves to be wilier than anyone suspected, following the raft on foot and plotting his family's rescue. Following a quartet of popular B-grade thrillers, director Curtis Hanson attempted to break partially out of the genre with The River Wild, which, despite the presence of a psycho killer, played as more a stunt-filled action movie than a murder mystery. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: Curtis Hanson
Written By: Denis O'Neill
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Sep 30, 1994 Wide
On DVD: Nov 1, 1998
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
The perfect high old time for audiences in the mood to be tossed into the spin cycle for a pulse-pounding thrill ride.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
O'Neill proves to be a squeamish screenwriter. He doesn't allow his villain to do anything truly unnerving until the story's nearly done.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Constructed from so many ideas, characters and situations recycled from other movies that all the way down the river I kept thinking: Been there. Done that.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
If watched from a mildly amused, forgiving distance, the movie has its enjoyable moments -- good and campy.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
The thriller framework is still familiar, but the results exhibit a welcome freshness.
Josh Larsen, LarsenOnFilm
Another 1990s domestic parable chastising workaholic dads, The River Wild also functions as a gorgeous travelogue and a Meryl Streep action film.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
A buff Streep vs. bad guy Bacon on a wild river journey in which good acting overcomes several cliches.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
corny but gripping
Fred Topel, About.com
Terrible "suspense" movie. Predictable and no action until the end.
Oz, Hollywood Bitchslap
It looks like an action movie, sounds like an action movie, but there's a lot more going on here.
Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
The title promises more than the film delivers.

Read all 11 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Candy R

Thriller about robbers who kidnap a family to help him escape down river. Good cast.
Brad W

Exciting, but not rewatchable
Anthony L

Hated it. I wanted everyone to drown.
Jason O

"The River Wild" was one of my favorite movies of 1994. Gail (Meryl Streep), her husband, and her son decide to take a white-water rafting trip. They already have their problems because Gail's husband pays too much attention to his job and he doesn't pay enough… More
"The River Wild" was one of my favorite movies of 1994. Gail (Meryl Streep), her husband, and her son decide to take a white-water rafting trip. They already have their problems because Gail's husband pays too much attention to his job and he doesn't pay enough attention to his family. However, before they know it, they'll have more deadly problems to deal with. Gail is an experienced and knowledgeable white-water rafter, and soon she and her family meet two mysterious strangers, one of which is Wade (Kevin Bacon). Wade asks for help to get to a certain place and Gail agrees to help, but little does she know that soon she, her husband, and her son, will be fighting for their lives. "The River Wild" is a better movie than a lot of critics and other reviewers have said that it is. It has exciting white-water rafting sequences, especially when Gail and the others try to live through 'The Gauntlet,' and it features a great performance by Meryl Streep. If you like exciting movies or anything to do with white-water rafting, I definitely recommend getting "The River Wild." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001.
Tom E

I couldn't imagine Kevin Bacon as a villain, but he played a GREAT villain in this one --
Dean !

A pretty good thriller with a strong cast.
Curtis L

Only cause I grew up watching it, and kevin bacon is fun to watch sometimes. And John C. Reily kills people.
Dean M

I started to like Meryl Streep in this adventure-thriler film because she's fantastic for the American deaf culture by using American sign language in her character. And she successfully invades Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone territory when her family is terrorized… More
I started to like Meryl Streep in this adventure-thriler film because she's fantastic for the American deaf culture by using American sign language in her character. And she successfully invades Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone territory when her family is terrorized by a psychotic killer while on a white-water rafting vacation.
Jason S

Good thriller. The boat scenes are really good and the acting is great.
Luke B

A nice tense thriller. Set's aside big explosions and hard boiled cops and gives us a family on a rafting holiday. Bacon excels at being the creepy and dangerous robber and Riley is great as his bitch. Hanson keeps the action focussed and also takes time to explore the motives… More
A nice tense thriller. Set's aside big explosions and hard boiled cops and gives us a family on a rafting holiday. Bacon excels at being the creepy and dangerous robber and Riley is great as his bitch. Hanson keeps the action focussed and also takes time to explore the motives and emotions of the family.
Bradley W

Exciting, but not rewatchable
Dannielle A

I love the music in this movie. The acting is great; well cast.
Steven V

A highly entertaining. I started to like Meryl Streep in this adventure-thriler film because she's fantastic for the American deaf culture by using American sign language in her character.
ashley h

Ok, I realize its only taken me 16 years, but I finally watched this all the way through. A good movie. Made me want to go white water raftinga gain...
Danny R

An exciting suspense-filled thriller with a stunning performance by Meryl Streep who did many of the hair-raising stunts herself as a former river guide and rafting expert who arranges a white-water rafting trip to celebrate her son's birthday with her son and estranged husband,… More
An exciting suspense-filled thriller with a stunning performance by Meryl Streep who did many of the hair-raising stunts herself as a former river guide and rafting expert who arranges a white-water rafting trip to celebrate her son's birthday with her son and estranged husband, and falling prey to three mysterious strangers on the lam from the law, her skills and courage will soon be put to test when murder comes into the picture. A terrific cast with Kevin Bacon a standout as the head bad guy. Beautiful cinematography by Robert Elswitt. A pulse- pounding thrill ride with outstanding direction by Curtis Hanson. Highly Recommended.
Deb S

The River Wild is a fantastic movie which shows Kevin Bacon at his best as a psycho. He is definitely one of those good-guy actors who can pull off a sinister performance when called upon. Kevin is the real scene stealer here. His performance as Wade is top-notch. He's… More
The River Wild is a fantastic movie which shows Kevin Bacon at his best as a psycho. He is definitely one of those good-guy actors who can pull off a sinister performance when called upon. Kevin is the real scene stealer here. His performance as Wade is top-notch. He's charming in the beginning and creepy later on. The River Wild is Curtis Hanson's first attempt at an action film. And he does quite well. The film's ultimate set piece is the Gauntlet. And it's a thrilling 10 minutes. The sight of giant rocks coming right at you is terrifying. I'm not sure where those scenes were really filmed but special commendation should go to the filmmakers, actors and stunt doubles for putting themselves at such great risk. The cinematography is stunning. The rapids are gorgeous and exciting to look at, the grand scenes of mountains and forests, rocks, steep cliffs, simply beautiful. The music score is also lovely. The River Wild is not Curtis Hanson's finest hour. That honor goes to LA Confidential. This movie reminds me of when I went white water rafting on the Delaware River in Pennsylvania except there was no Kevin Bacon there lol......
Andrew F

I liked it a lot. A great combination of suspense and adventure in the wilderness.
Stephen E

Formula thrillers aren't quite my cup of tea. I can't ever really get as into the action as much as I'd like, and I find myself, for the most part, bored. On the other hand, "The River Wild" is almost never boring. It maintains a consistent tone of peril, its… More
Formula thrillers aren't quite my cup of tea. I can't ever really get as into the action as much as I'd like, and I find myself, for the most part, bored. On the other hand, "The River Wild" is almost never boring. It maintains a consistent tone of peril, its characters always being thrust into precarious positions. While the storyline isn't fantastic, I liked the music and the camerawork -- especially the camerawork. There's not much rewatch value here, but its enjoyable nonetheless.
d j

One of my favorite movies that Kevin Bacon did...
Dimitris S

Cute.I particularly liked the fact Bacon is at his best when none knows of his distinctive performances.The reason he steals the show in every god-damn movie he's in.Forces of nature couldn't help Hanson's popularity and even if he weren't a director,the script… More
Cute.I particularly liked the fact Bacon is at his best when none knows of his distinctive performances.The reason he steals the show in every god-damn movie he's in.Forces of nature couldn't help Hanson's popularity and even if he weren't a director,the script would be as tidal as those waterfalls.