For this episode, Phil and Liam are joined by special guest Blake Howard, film podcaster extraordinaire and the disruptive innovator behind One Heat Minute productions, to discuss the 1994 action-thriller THE RIVER WILD.

Married couple Gail and Tom Hartman (Meryl Streep and David Strathairn) are in the middle of a relationship crisis and on the verge of separation, when they take their young son Roarke (Joseph Mazello) on a whitewater rafting trip. However, their vacation turns into a nightmare when they encounter Wade and Terry (Kevin Bacon and John C. Reilly), two criminals on the lam, who take the family hostage and force them to aid their escape through the notoriously treacherous Idaho rapids.

This is a hugely significant film for multiple reasons. Not only was it one of the first major action movies of the era to have a female lead, but that lead happened to be none other than Meryl Streep!

 The guys start by discussing the film’s ‘Die Hard DNA’, and debate whether it’s actually closer in spirit to DIE HARD or DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE. They also talk about where this movie fits in among the popular 90s subgenre of ‘yuppie in peril’ thrillers, and discuss director Curtis Hanson’s eclectic filmography, along with his mastery of suspense and tension.  

They talk about the gravitas that Meryl Streep brings to this fast-paced ‘divorce drama’, and expound the virtues of David Strathairn, Kevin Bacon, John C. Reilly, Joseph Mazello and Benjamin Bratt. They dig into what the film is really saying about family dynamics, and how it was ahead of the curve with its exploration of concepts such as gaslighting, toxic masculinity and micro-aggressions. The guys then take their raft down the L.A. river to get to the ‘Die Hard Oscars’, before Blake and Liam go mano-a-mano in the ‘Double Jeopardy Trivia Quiz’! 

THE RIVER WILD trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWew8lWYhtI

At the time of release, THE RIVER WILD is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video, Apple/iTunes, YouTube, Vudu, Redbox, Direct TV, Spectrum TV and all the usual platforms.

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