Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: RIVER [Fantastic Fest - Austin, Texas]
The basis of a horror film can be based on many different elements but as “River” dictates, the main points are environment, main characters as family and a villain that will not stop. With "River", which also played at TIFF, director Josh Giuliano wanted to flex a breakdown in perception. The movie begins with three siblings (two of which are sisters played by Jane Levy -- of "Shameless" -- as Lucy and Jessica Rothe -- of "Happy Death Day" -- as Carla along with their brother Drew. The tension is built in from the get go. The siblings are brought together at their old home after the death of their father. Carla resents him but she left home trying to make her success in other places. Lucy kept the home fires burning but feels slighted. There is love but there is resentment. The location could be anywhere but is, in fact, in West Virginia. What Giuliano does well is almost misdirect the sisters until halfway through the film. Rothe is usually very take charge persona with her characters but here we are given a switch, not completely, but an action in first act act really puts on the darkness (again using only one location).
An interesting structural element has the prologue done almost in novelistic voice over while simply gliding through a campsite and a car (whether it be a prelude or an aftermath). It really undoes expectation in a way and plays with what we are seeing. In terms of the killer’s darkness and motivation, it is really it is hard to pinpoint the reason. Giuliano says that they kept that intentional. One only knows it as The Path but the reality of its meaning and focus is not made clear at all (on purpose). They simply take down those around them. The Stranger had similar aspects in "The Spiral" at TIFF last week but this almost seems tribal or ritualistic with the nature around them. Max Mattern as the brother Drew is the weakest link but the way his and Carla’s archs play out is really flipped well. An epilogue like the beginning actually reveals an intense mythology while not losing the story of the sisters while adding an interesting layer that changes how the film is viewed. One specific bike ride and aftermath really sells this. The killer is intriguingly built because of the family structure. The way he teaches The Path is key especially in how it builds the mythology. Ultimately we don’t see the trauma of the aftermath but simply the survival which is a key function of the story. That said, it gives enough context without over explaining. “River” is intense and effective while still leaving many aspects to interpretation. 84%/B
By Tim Wassberg
