The River Wild

Director: Curtis Hanson

Stars: Meryl Streep, Kevin Bacon, John C Reilly, David Strathairn, Joseph Mazzello

Year: 1994 Running Time: 112 mins Rating:

A white-water rafting trip turns Meryl Streep into a force of nature when her family is threatened by escaped thugs Kevin Bacon and John C. Reilly. Versatile director Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential) opens the action floodgates as Meryl tries to outwit the bad guys and save hubby David Strathairn. Paddles up for high adventure.

Review

A real old-fashioned, crowd-pleasing adventure, excitingly shot on eye-catching actual locations. Meryl Streep hires a raft for the trip of a lifetime for young son Joseph Mazzello and bespectacled husband David Strathairn. Then escaped armed robbers Kevin Bacon and John C Reilly force her to negotiate a stretch of treacherous current. Streep, Strathairn and Bacon are all terrific in this pacy, nailoiting thriller packed with lots of edge-of-seat moments.