River's Edge 1986

Michael Wilmington, Los Angeles Times: River's Edge is a contemporary horror story about teen-agers, but it contains no slasher scenes or serial homicides. Its monsters are all too real. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: The triumph of this bleak, unsettling picture is that, no matter how grim it gets, it's far too involving for you to turn away. Read more

Janet Maslin, New York Times: Bitter and disturbing. Read more

Pat Graham, Chicago Reader: It's more a success than a failure, if only because the confusions are so protean. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: This is the best analytical film about a crime since The Onion Field and In Cold Blood. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: There are some good, frightening scenes of volatile lunacy, but the whole thing badly lacks a controlling distance and perspective. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: An unusually downbeat and depressing youth pic. Read more

Hal Hinson, Washington Post: The movie's thinking is hackneyed and sloppy. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: River stabs all-too-wildly in the dark. Read more