The River King (2005)

Abel Grey is sent to investigate the death of a boy from an exclusive local school, who is found floating in the river. Fearing scandal, the school insists it was suicide. But after ... See full summary »

Director:

Nick Willing

Writers:

Alice Hoffman (novel), David Kane (screenplay)

Stars:

Edward Burns, Jennifer Ehle, Thomas Gibson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edward Burns	...	Abel Grey
Jennifer Ehle	...	Betsy Chase
Thomas Gibson	...	August 'Gus' Pierce
John Kapelos	...	Joey Tosh
Jamie Thomas King	...	Harry McKenna (as Jamie King)
Rachelle Lefevre	...	Carlin Leander
Bruce Murphy	...	Joey's Son
David Gibson McLean	...	Young Abel (as David Maclean)
Julian Rhind-Tutt	...	Eric Herman
Ross Petty	...	The Dean
David Christoffel	...	Matt Farris
Richard Fitzpatrick	...	Police Chief
Karl Pruner	...	Walter Pierce
Jonathan Malen	...	Nathaniel Gibb
Jeff A. Wright	...	Robbie (as Jeff Wright)

Storyline

Abel Grey is sent to investigate the death of a boy from an exclusive local school, who is found floating in the river. Fearing scandal, the school insists it was suicide. But after discovering from the boy's girlfriend, Carlin, that he was being badly bullied, Abel suspects that a dangerous schoolboy initiation has gone horribly wrong and he secretly solicits the help of a sympathetic teacher, Betsy. He is warned off the investigation by his boss, as the school is a generous benefactor to the Police benevolent fund. Abel, however, cannot let the case go, not only because his own brother committed suicide years before, but also it seems that the spirit of the dead boy is leaving them clues as to what really happened that night.

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Plot Keywords:

suicide | teacher | hazing | policeman | private school | 

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Taglines:

It's the truth that haunts us

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violent images

Details

Official Sites:

Myriad Pictures [us]

Country:

Canada UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 2005 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Bajo el hielo

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$16,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kismet Film Company, imX Communications, Myriad Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min 95 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the end of the film, Abel's father, Ernest, recalls how Abel's brother had hugged him the day that he committed suicide. Ernest then remarks that he found it strange because it wasn't Frank's way. This dialogue is taken directly from a scene where Abel is talking to his mother rather than his father.

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Goofs

After pulling Gus' body from the river, Abel and Joey's boots and pants are perfectly dry. It would've been impossible for them to pull the body from the river without at least getting their boots and pant legs wet.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Joey Tosh: Get in there!

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Soundtracks

"Midnight Lightning"
Composed by Jimi Hendrix
Performed by Jimi Hendrix
Licensed courtesy of Experience Hendrix L.L.C.

User Reviews

Great acting, well-written...worth a watch!

I work in a video store and had heard nothing of this film, so i rented it on a whim and was very pleasantly surprised. The acting was fantastic, and although the film was a little slow getting started, I was glad I stuck around. It pulled at my mind in a way very few films do these days, and it did so without a lot of hype and overacting. I also found the film score very refreshing--it was unexpected for the film's subject (think: Bernard Herrmann's score for "North by Northwest"--not what you expect, but it fits beautifully). Overall a very enjoyable film, if just a bit slow at the beginning. Makes me want to go buy the book!