The River Wild
Gail and Tom Hartman are struggling to stay together and decide to take a white-water rafting holiday adventure in Montana for their son Roarke's 10th birthday, only to meet up with a pair of mysterious men whose desperation grows, turning their vacation into a nightmare.
Critics Sentiment
The group navigates the dangerous Gauntlet rapids with Gail guiding
Tom fails to get the gun and appears to be shot
The film's biggest jump occurs from Tom's failed escape attempt to the spectacular Gauntlet rapids sequence, rising 2.1 points as critics moved from questioning plot logic to praising the film's standout action centerpiece.
Critics found The River Wild to be a solidly crafted but predictable thriller that succeeds primarily on the strength of its spectacular white-water rafting sequences and Kevin Bacon's menacing performance. While the family drama setup and ultimate resolution were viewed as conventional, the film earned praise for its believable character dynamics and Meryl Streep's convincing physical performance. The consensus reflected appreciation for competent filmmaking and beautiful outdoor cinematography, though most agreed it never transcended genre expectations.
Full cast
Meryl Streep
Gail Hartman
David Strathairn
Tom Hartman
Kevin Bacon
Wade
John C. Reilly
Terry
Joseph Mazzello
Roarke Hartman
Benjamin Bratt
Ranger Johnny
William Lucking
Frank
Stephanie Sawyer
Willa
Elizabeth Hoffman
Gail's Mother
Victor Galloway
Gail's Father
Diane Delano
Ranger
Thomas F. Duffy
Ranger
Paul Cantelon
Violinist
Glenn Morshower
Policeman
Crew
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