River's Edge... I'm STILL processing

Okay, WOW. I just finished watching River's Edge (1986) and I'm honestly a little disturbed. Like, in a good way? Maybe? It's one of those movies that just sits with you and makes you feel...uncomfortable. The whole vibe is so bleak and detached, and the way these teens react to Jamie's murder is just... it's chilling. Samson, played by Daniel Roebuck, is genuinely scary. No remorse, just...nothing. And the nonchalant way he shows people the body? Ugh, I had to look away a couple of times, not gonna lie. What REALLY got to me, though, was the apathy. The way some of the other kids just kind of went along with it, more concerned with their own lives than the fact that a girl was DEAD. Layne, especially (Crispin Glover, who is always amazing but also kinda weirdly terrifying here?). He's like the ringleader of the detached apathy club and it's unsettling how he tries to get everyone else on board. I kept yelling at the screen, "Someone, ANYONE, call the cops!" But nobody does, and that's what makes it so...sad and scary at the same time. It's a harsh look at teenage alienation and how messed up things can get when nobody seems to care, ya know? I think what makes this movie so effective is that it doesn't try to give you easy answers or a happy ending. It just throws you into this messed up situation and makes you feel the weight of it. It's not fun to watch, exactly, but it's definitely impactful. I'm not sure if I'd watch it again anytime soon, but it has stuck with me. Final thoughts: Definitely worth checking out if you're in the mood for something that will make you think. Just be prepared to feel a little...icky afterwards. And maybe hug your friends. Just because.