Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The River King

  • 20052005
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
37,456
2,849
The River King (2005)
Trailer for The River King
Play trailer1:52
1 Video
2 Photos
DramaMysteryThriller
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 discover... Read allAbel 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... Read allAbel 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 hel... Read all
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
37,456
2,849
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Nick Willing
    • Writers
      • Alice Hoffman(novel)
      • David Kane(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Edward Burns
      • Jennifer Ehle
      • Thomas Gibson
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Nick Willing
    • Writers
      • Alice Hoffman(novel)
      • David Kane(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Edward Burns
      • Jennifer Ehle
      • Thomas Gibson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 68User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews

    Videos1

    The River King
    Trailer 1:52
    The River King

    Photos

    The River King (2005)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Edward Burns
    Edward Burns
    • Abel Grey
    Jennifer Ehle
    Jennifer Ehle
    • Betsy Chase
    Thomas Gibson
    Thomas Gibson
    • August 'Gus' Pierce
    John Kapelos
    John Kapelos
    • Joey Tosh
    Jamie Thomas King
    Jamie Thomas King
    • Harry McKenna
    • (as Jamie King)
    Rachelle Lefevre
    Rachelle Lefevre
    • Carlin Leander
    Bruce Murphy
    • Joey's Son
    David Gibson McLean
    • Young Abel
    • (as David Maclean)
    Julian Rhind-Tutt
    Julian Rhind-Tutt
    • Eric Herman
    Ross Petty
    • The Dean
    David Christoffel
    • Matt Farris
    Richard Fitzpatrick
    Richard Fitzpatrick
    • Police Chief
    Karl Pruner
    • Walter Pierce
    Jonathan Malen
    Jonathan Malen
    • Nathaniel Gibb
    Jeff A. Wright
    • Robbie
    • (as Jeff Wright)
    Nikki Barnett
    • Amy
    Robert Bockstael
    Robert Bockstael
    • Kenny
    Sean McCann
    Sean McCann
    • Ernest Grey
    • Director
      • Nick Willing
    • Writers
      • Alice Hoffman(novel)
      • David Kane(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Brothers McMullen
    6.6
    The Brothers McMullen
    Domestic Disturbance
    5.6
    Domestic Disturbance
    Crimes of Passion
    5.4
    Crimes of Passion
    The New Daughter
    5.3
    The New Daughter
    Switchback
    6.4
    Switchback
    Under Suspicion
    6.4
    Under Suspicion
    Unlawful Entry
    6.3
    Unlawful Entry
    The Ledge
    6.5
    The Ledge
    Swimming with Sharks
    7.0
    Swimming with Sharks
    The Code
    5.9
    The Code
    Black Widow
    6.4
    Black Widow
    The Messengers
    5.3
    The Messengers

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      Harry McKenna: [notices Carlin is wearing Gus's old coat] You can't wear that.

      Carlin Leander: You're telling me what I can and cannot do?

    • Connections
      Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      How Will I Sleep?
      Written by Lee Rogers

      Performed by Lee Rogers

      Published by Zenith Publishing Ltd.

      Courtesy of Zenith Cafe Ltd.

    User reviews68

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    The Mystery : Finding the Multiple Stories and Making Them Relate
    THE RIVER KING is a high profile film that went directly to DVD without the benefit of a theater run. It is anyone's guess why a film of this quality should not make it commercially while there are so many less well-made movies that linger on the screens for weeks or months. The film is well acted, well directed, beautifully photographed and well scored.

    The possible reason for its lack of attention may have been due to some test screenings where the audience was asked to evaluate. Despite all of the fine points of the film the problem lies in the screen adaptation by David Kane of the haunting novel by Alice Hoffman. Too many loose ends do not a story make and in the final analysis it is difficult to converse with someone who has not seen the film just what it is about.

    Ostensibly, THE RIVER KING is about a private prep school out in the snowy fields of somewhere, a place where secret societies still haze, faculty are still under the control of the school's funders, and appearances are far more important than truths. Abel (Edward Burns) is called in to investigate the found drowned body of a student, and with his partner (John Kapelos) the two detectives suspect foul play - suicide, murder, hazing. Their investigation includes questioning the victim's only friend Carlin (Rachelle Lefevre) and one photography and English Lit teacher Betsy (Jennifer Ehle). But as the investigation proceeds, Abel has flashbacks to his childhood memories of his own older brother's suicide, dark secrets that have haunted him, and it is this psychic matrix which serves as the canvas for him to resolve the case as well as to relate to the various characters within the confines of the prep school.

    Many of the questions raised by the narrative remain unanswered by this frustrating script, but the actors bring as much involvement and credibility as they are able to create a film of mystery and self-realization in the snow and ice of the fields around the school. For those who wish more, reading Hoffman's novel will be more satisfying. Grady Harp
    helpful•49
    10
    • gradyharp
    • Feb 12, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 21, 2005 (Canada)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nehrin Kralı
    • Filming locations
      • Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Kismet Film Company
      • imX Communications
      • Myriad Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $16,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The River King (2005)
    Top Gap
    What is the English language plot outline for The River King (2005)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    New & Upcoming Superhero Movies and Series
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    Fall TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    These Stars Are on the Rise
    See the gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Back to top
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.