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Seventeen-year-old Clay Watkins (Sam Huntington) was riding into town with his father when their truck went off the road and into a river. His father was knocked unconscious as the truck sank, and though Clay’s grandfather came to the rescue, he was only able to save Clay. Now Clay is an outcast in his small hometown, living with the memory of his father’s drowning.
After his father’s death, Clay lives with his mother and grandfather, Buster (Barry Corbin), the town’s sheriff. Clay is nothing but trouble—and Buster realizes that he’s constantly bailing his grandson out. Still, Clay rebels even more and drags himself deeper into trouble by running over a mailbox in town. Buster puts Clay in jail for a while to consider his actions, but, instead, Clay grows more hostile and angry.
Buster pushes Clay to head out on his own to face his greatest fear—the water—by giving him a choice: either take a long canoe trip down the river or go to jail. Buster believes that taking Clay out of his comfort zone and forcing him to deal with the elements will bring him around. He records tapes with helpful information to aid in Clay’s survival along the river—and he also offers life advice that Clay surprisingly listens to as he’s working to prove himself on his way down the river.
The story takes a twist when a local girl is kidnapped—and, of course, the bad guys end up on the same river as Clay. As he continues his journey, he’s forced to decide whether he’ll be a hero and help the girl or if his instincts for self-survival will win out.
Clay’s trip could change his life by teaching him to stop running away from his past experiences and blaming himself for his dad’s death. Or he could just show Buster that his stubbornness helped him survive.
River’s End is a powerful movie with beautiful, natural scenery that helps to create a feeling of serenity. The story doesn’t have many surprises, and it seems to be the same story we’ve all heard before, but it’s presented in a different way that really pulls you in—and it helps you appreciate the advice of elders.
A wholesome movie that teaches plenty of positive lessons, River’s End is definitely worth your time.
Ed. Note: For more information about River’s End, visit Amazon.com.
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