River's Edge

"An unknown dead body left by the riverside leads them to sharing a secret and creating a distorted bond."

2018 1h 58m JA

😐

6.1

MID

★6.1TMDB · 52

CrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

High schooler Haruna befriends loner Yamada, then is drawn into the tangled relationship between him, a model and the girl who loves him unreasonably.

“An unknown dead body left by the riverside leads them to sharing a secret and creating a distorted bond.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Fumi Nikaido
Haruna Wakagusa
Ryo Yoshizawa
Ichiro Yamada
Aoi Morikawa
Kanna Tajima
Shuhei Uesugi
Kannonzaki
Sumire
Kozue Yoshikawa
Shiori Doi
Rumi
Wako Ando
Yo
Takuya Matsunaga
Takahashi

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Isao Yukisada
Writers: Misaki Setoyama
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 8 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Isao Yukisada, shot by Kenji Maki. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Tsuyoshi Imai shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Fumi Nikaido and Ryo Yoshizawa and Aoi Morikawa carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "An unknown dead body left by the riverside leads them to sharing a secret and creating a distorted bond.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt7476946 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 52 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Isao Yukisada directs. Kenji Maki behind the camera. Tsuyoshi Imai cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 8 years ago.
2Directed by Isao Yukisada, shot by Kenji Maki. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Editor Tsuyoshi Imai shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
4Fumi Nikaido and Ryo Yoshizawa and Aoi Morikawa carry the top of the cast.
5Marketing tagline: "An unknown dead body left by the riverside leads them to sharing a secret and creating a distorted bond.".
6IMDB entry: tt7476946 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 52 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
8Classified under 17 themes, including "infidelity", "japan", "homophobia", "river".

The technical file

Cinematography: Kenji Maki
Editing: Tsuyoshi Imai
Makeup / hair: Rikiya Sô
Runtime: 118 min · 1h 58m
Status: Released
Original language: JA
Certification (US): NC-17
IMDB: River's Edge (2018)

Also by

Isao Yukisada

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Alunauwie2025-09-29
★ 9/10
River’s Edge explores the dark and often overlooked struggles of adolescence, diverging from typical teen narratives by highlighting emotional turmoil, identity crises, and hidden traumas. Each character is given depth and space to unfold, creating a compelling yet somber portrayal of youth. Though some narrative choices—like the unexplained interview scenes—feel disjointed, the film overall offers a haunting reflection on the loneliness and complexity of growing up. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com) and (English version : uwiepuspita.com)

Production companies