Search - Suspicious River on DVD

SHOWS PROMISE--BUT BEWARE OF SWANS BEARING SYMBOLISM

David R. Eastwood | Long Island, NY | 05/01/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Director Lynne Stopkewich has dealt with a very important topic here: the low self-esteem some women suffer from AND the cruel ways that some men take terrible advantage of such women.

The two lead actors--Molly Parker and Callum Keith Rennie--are excellent in their roles as the abused woman, Leila Murray, and the abuser, Gary Jensen. The rest of the cast manages to be adequate. (By an eerily odd coincidence, two of the minor cast members--Don S. Davis as Golf Shirt Man, and Michael Shanks as Ball Cap Man--both went on to star in the TV series "Stargate SG-1.")

Two main problems with this low-budget effort are the production values and the script. Technically, this often looks like a class project for an undergrad course in film making, with the lighting and color being major difficulties. The script is uneven, too, with its heavy-handed parallel subplot and its "happy ending" that is too rushed, sketchy, and implausible. As for the symbolic swans that hang out in the river, they may be just what YOU like, but to me they seemed like one more pretentiously artsy thing that a teacher in Screenplays 101 should have advised the writer(s) to cut out.

If you like Molly Parker, watch her in Stopkewich's KISSED and in the HBO-TV series "Deadwood." Both are better vehicles for her talents."

A great film about a tough subject

Margaux Paschke | New York | 07/11/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This movie by Lynne Stopkewich (whose controversial first film was Kissed) shows off her depth as a director. This film deals with the story of a young woman trapped in a small town repeating the self destructive patterns she learned from her mother as well as not appreciating what you've got until you potentially lose it..... Molly Parker shines as the lead and the secondary characters are good enough, just overlook the low budget feel to this movie to enjoy the compelling storytelling. The film was based on a book of the same title by Laura Kasischke and this movie made me want to go out and buy the book. I highly recommend Suspicious River to those who enjoy gritty independent films."

Amazing

Jimmie Lynne | Cleveland, OH | 06/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a subject that isn't usually touched upon in film. The B movie feel reflects the dreary depseration of the life of the main character.


Parker plays Leila, a woman so bored and disillusioned with life that she actively seeks out abuse from stragers. She begins taking money from men for sex, not for the money, but for the degredation. Leila seems determined to make her life as dark and frightening as she can. Her childhood has traumatized her to the point of emotional numbness.


Rennie plays Gary Jenson, initially one of Leila's customers who eventually becomes her "boyfriend" and only reveals his true motivations at the end of the film. He manipulates Leila with alternating violence and empty promises. Leila seems to crave the violent lifestyle Gary is offering.


The acting is amazing. Rennie and Parker both give perfect performances. A lot of the story is told through facial expressions instead of dialog which Rennie and Parker both pull off superbly. Suspicious River is a dark glimpse into a frightening and dangerous, yet mysteriously seductive world."