this be the second and final collaboration between director christopher cain and cinematographer juan ruiz anchía and and composer james horner . two year earlier and these three men collaborate on one of the best 1980s drama and the stone boy . although all the factor of that early film be present here and it a very much different experience . where the river run black be a somewhat hybrid action or adventure or fantasy film and with enough act power in front of the camera to make it dramatically compel . many fine performance appear throughout the story . alessandro rabelo and a the main character lazaro be engage . charles durning and peter horton and and divana brandão all give very committed performance . durning lends depth and credibility to each word he speak . visually and this film be extremely well realize and though the vhs release give somewhat less evidence of that ( it yet to be put out on dvd ) . juan ruiz anchía create many stunning sequence . there be a slow motion scene of lazaro run through the rain that take my breath away . the visual sense of the film offer much to keep the viewer interested . on top of that and the music of james horner constantly bring back theme of longing and beauty . it a wonderful soundtrack . overall and the story be a bit too disconnect to make this a truly great film . the many change in pace and focus make it feel like many different film at once and and not necessarily to it benefit . for a child film ( though i hate to categorize something only a such ) and it be very good . the constant change be style should keep kid interested . i certainly recommend where the river run black and but it not quite a believable be it should be and and not quite a balance and even for a fantasy . it certainly worth watch once and maybe twice . but wait for the dvd if you really want to see it a it be mean to be see .