AtanariaBen Ketai’s 2023 reimagining of The River Wild is the kind of remake that doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, but still manages to offer a smooth enough ride for those willing to paddle along. Clocking in at a brisk 90 minutes, this direct-to-streaming thriller positions itself less as a shot-for-shot redo of the 1994 original and more as a spiritual successor, trading hostage dynamics for a more modern, survivalist vibe.
The original The River Wild, directed by the late Curtis Hanson, was a surprise hit in 1994—a wilderness-set thriller that leaned hard into white-knuckle tension and big-name performances. Meryl Streep, typically known for prestige dramas, stepped into an action-heroine role with striking credibility as Gail, a seasoned rafter trying to protect her family from two escaped convicts. Kevin Bacon earned an Oscar nomination for his magnetic performance as the deceptively charming villain Wade, while David Strathairn rounded out the trio with quiet strength as Gail’s estranged husband. The film’s lush Montana backdrops, practical stunts, and high-stakes family drama made it a memorable staple of ‘90s cable TV.
Fast forward nearly 30 years, and River Wild (2023) updates the formula without erasing its DNA. This time, we follow estranged siblings Joey and Gray (played by real-life couple Leighton Meester and Taran Killam), who reunite for a white-water rafting trip with some high school friends. Among them is Trevor (Adam Brody), a mysterious figure who quickly sheds his affable exterior to become the film’s central threat. Brody clearly relishes the opportunity to play against type, dialing his performance into near-campy territory—a fun echo of Bacon’s iconic villain, if not quite as chilling.
While it lacks the polish and emotional resonance of its predecessor, Ketai’s version carves out its own space by emphasizing interpersonal tension and slow-burning backstories. Shot across picturesque locations in Hungary, Slovakia, and Bosnia, the film looks better than your typical straight-to-digital thriller. Some of the river sequences are impressively staged, creating a genuine sense of danger that keeps the movie afloat even when the script dips into implausibility—particularly in how quickly Trevor transforms from awkward tagalong to full-blown psychopath.
The movie’s biggest misstep lies in its resolution. While the journey is lean and tense, the ending underdelivers, glossing over key character arcs and emotional payoffs—especially the strained relationship between Joey and Gray, which is hinted at but never fully explored. It’s a missed opportunity to deepen the story beyond its surface-level thrills.
Still, for fans of the original or viewers just looking for a solid weekend thriller, River Wild (2023) is a competent, if not groundbreaking, update. It won’t eclipse the memory of Streep navigating deadly rapids or Bacon’s grinning menace, but it does enough to remind us why the original still holds water—and why sometimes, remakes aren’t such a bad idea after all.
Watch if you liked: The Descent, A Simple Plan, or the 1994 River Wild on a rainy afternoon.
