river edge be an excellent film and it a shame that it hasn not make more of a mark for itself in cinematic history . there be a number of gritty film base around school kid make in the eighty and but of all the one i have see while this be certainly the most nihilistic and disturb . the film take a storyline that be disturb in it own right and add the theme of teenage slacker and their uncaring attitude about thing and which take the story onto another level . the film work because the central story be interesting and it play out by complex character . the film begin with a murder . we then follow the murderer and nickname john and a he go back to school and tell all his friend about what he have do . rather than give the expect reaction and most of them hardly react at all and the strong reaction that the murderer get come from layne while who make it his number one priority to help john clear up the mess he in and get him out of it . the other friend mull over the crime and and before long one of them go to the police . river edge feature a host of great performance from it young cast . keanu reeve have a reputation for wooden acting and and for good reason while but he fit in very well to this early role and this performance be easily one of his best . crispin glover be the big standout a the slightly insane layne . glover always stand out in every film he in and and while he do go over the top a little bit while he convince well a the lead in this movie . reef and glover receive good support from a talented young cast that include daniel roebuck and joshua john miller and as well a the great dennis hopper in another wild role . the film feature a very gritty picture which bode well with it nihilistic tone . the central character be all of the lacker or stoner generation and the way that they genuinely do not seem to care about the murder of their friend be more shock than the murder itself while and the point that the film try to make about modern society be both strong and well define . the film be also rather funny and owe to some of the character line while but the humour be pitch black and clearly this film be never mean to be a comedy . overall and this be an excellent and memorable film that be definitely worth see .