Down by the Riverside

2007
1h 24m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

True Crime Crime Drama Horror Mystery Thriller

New Zealand 1920. Five pregnant, unwed girls are sent to a country house to have their children. Twenty years later, the horrific truth is discovered.New Zealand 1920. Five pregnant, unwed girls are sent to a country house to have their children. Twenty years later, the horrific truth is discovered.New Zealand 1920. Five pregnant, unwed girls are sent to a country house to have their children. Twenty years later, the horrific truth is discovered.

Directors
- Brad Davison
- Marama Killen
Writers
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.5/10

YOUR RATING

Directors
- Brad Davison
- Marama Killen
Writers
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos4

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
WILHELM SCREAM: The fan in Owen's office.

Goofs
A modern car is visible in one shot through a background window, in an early scene in the dining room.

Quotes
[from trailer]
Owen Smith: They found the wife easy enough, that was no problem, she was in the living room with 18 stab wounds to her chest, it was the children they couldn't find. They spent ages looking, weeks, and almost gave up the search. Till an officer went back to the house, and smelt something odd coming from the fireplace. Looked up the chimney, he'd jammed the two children up there.
Amelia: Fortunately for us they found all the bodies...

Alternate versions
An alternate version of the film screened at B-Movie Film Festival, and is approx 5 minutes longer than the DVD version, with extended and additional scenes. One particular highlight of the extended version is the longer speech by Benny Johnson, with additional lines such as "Do you like fire? I like starting fires".

Connections
Featured in Behind the Riverside (2007)

Soundtracks
Taonga Puoro
Performed by Richard Nunns
Courtesy of One Fat Man productions

User reviews5

Featured review

4/10

Maybe films that cannot put together essentials, shouldn't be made.

In the early twentieth century, several pregnant girls met in a rural birthing house, where they were sent away by their parents, to give birth and adopt away their children. Almost twenty years later, two historians research the horrific story of the girls and find that the unsolved murder mystery is far from over. Was shot in and around the Waikato town of Te Aroha, but would have been better assisted by filming around the Hawke Bay Art Deco areas of Hastings or Napier. The lack of a production manager and art director shows, along with the less than satisfactory sound and lighting results. Yes, I know that is was done on a no-profit, almost no money basis, but maybe films that cannot put together essentials, shouldn't be made. The best aspect of this one is the original score.