River's End

Most teen angst flicks tend to go too far over the top. You know the type of film, usually shown as an after school special or something on the Lifetime network. Here, the teen in question can’t cope with some tragedy, winds up with the wrong crowd and starts off head long into ruining his or her life. The problem with these films is while there is a lesson to be had it is painted on a too unrealistic canvas that lamentably it becomes laughable. Fortunately, with River’s End, the sophomore effort by actor turned director, William Katt, the film works both as a lesson and entertainment. Here the characters and situations are believable, the message does not knock you over the head and there is a very strong narrative to the film. This is a family film in the truest sense of the term, something all ages can sit together, watch and enjoy.

Clay Watkins (Sam Huntington) is a teenaged boy living in the rural community portrayed here by the real town of Menard, Texas. In his opening lines of dialogue we learn that he feels like he is drowning, drifting away from everyone around him. In flashbacks the audience gets glimpses of the source of his alienation. Clay was in a car with his father when the vehicle went into the water killing his father. Initially Clay was more socialized. He was second string on the local basketball team. When the star player fouls out Coach Kramer (Greg Evigan) sends Clay in for the all important final play of the game. Clay gets the ball; he poises to shoot and lets the final seconds of the clock count down only releasing the ball and making the basket after the final buzzer has sounded. The team loses, Clay is thrown off the team and now most of the school overtly hates him. He reacts by rushing head long into removing himself from the mainstream folks. Clay pierces with lower lip and ear, he spikes his hair and tips it in bright blue and tops things off with black eye liner and painting the nails of one hand with black polish. This is not exactly consistent with the local fashion preference of straw cowboy hats and boots. The kids laugh at him and in one case play a cruel practical joke on him resulting in a large snake pushed down the front of his paints. When Clay crashes into a mail box he is brought in to his Grandfather, Sheriff Buster Watkins (Barry Corbin). Along with his mother, Sarah (Caroline Goodall), Grandda tries to reach the boy before he has to go to court but the lines of communication are blocked by Clay at every point.

A little drama starts one night when Buster is on a stake out for drug smugglers with his deputy Fetch (Charles Robinson) a car pileup leads to the bad guys, Alejandro (Rudolf Martin) and his partner carjacking an older couple. The car that hit the smuggler’s truck was being driven by none other that the local basketball star Rooster Vaughn (Eduardo Ortiz) and his lovely girlfriend. Of course in the back seat of the carjacked vehicle is the lovely Regina Kennedy (Amanda Brooks). Meanwhile Clay is on the road to take on the river alone. He has some tape recorded instructions from Grandpa to guide him but he is intent on doing this his way. It is a little fuzzy as to why the boy took on this quest but that doesn’t diminish the over all story. When his cannon over turns of course we get a few more flashbacks to him watching his father drown as the water rushes into their car. Sure it is predictable what will happen next. Trouble boy out in the wilderness alone, beautiful girl being held hostage by two creeps; we know the basic plot but this film is in to telling the story not so much following the formula.

What makes this film work is not the formula but how the director handles the development of the story. Instead of rushing into having Clay come across damsel in distress time is provide for the young man to begin to cope with his own problems. Saving the pretty girl is not the main event that changes Clay, which was already well under way. This is what sets this film a bit above the pack. Instead of one crucial moment that changes his life his journey of self discovery enabled him to rise to the occasion to help. The pacing here is better than average for this genre of film. In the second act there are two story lines that move together organically, never forced or contrived. The over all feel to the movie is positive with just the right amount of action thrown in so the younger set will stay interested. Katt has been a fixture on television for years now. Of course most people will remember him as the Greatest American Hero but here he demonstrates that he has been paying attention to the directors. Many actors try to move over to the big chair but Katt shows great promise calling the shots. He avoids the usual pitfalls of a teen oriented film but not depending on quick, static shots or a pounding pop sound track. Instead his camera stays with a character giving the actors a chance to actually perform.

Sam Huntington is excellent as the perturbed teen. He avoids going over the top as an angst ridden teen playing Clay as a believable and sympathetic young man. Even when Clay is acting out or being dismissive of the adults trying to help there is a sense that this is a person worth saving. The audience is afforded the opportunity to become emotionally involved with his character. Barry Corbin is perfect as the grandfather. He has the look of a man used to his own way but also one who appreciates the difficultly his grandson is facing. He has had roles like this many times before but always makes them fresh. Amanda Brooks has some good emotional scenes here but is not given much more to do than look frightened. This was only her second film and there is something there for her as an actor but this film did not give her all that much to show it.

Pumpjack Entertainment does a good job with releasing this film to DVD. The video is presented in anamorphic 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The color balance is very good with a color palette that really shows off the beautiful scenery. The audio is in Dolby two channel surround sound and does a reasonable job. There is a commentary track with the director; star and scriptwriter that does an excellent job of helping the audience understand the work that went into the production. This is a film that should be part of your collection; it can entertain the whole family which in itself is quite an achievement now.

Posted 02/13/07