Parents' Guide to The Girl in the River

Movie 2026 NR 92 minutes
The Girl in the River movie poster: Devon Sawa, Maggie Grace, Ralph Macchio, and Tiffany Haddish pose against a yellow background

Common Sense Media Review

Christie Cronan By Christie Cronan , based on child development research. How do we rate?

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age 14+

Predictable crime thriller has murder, language, blood.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

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  • The Girl in the River movie: Maggie Grace and Devon Sawa join a local police officer to examine a body by the river
  • The Girl in the River movie: Devon Sawa and Maggie Grace walk with a local police officer on the way to the crime scene

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What's the Story?

In THE GIRL IN THE RIVER, Alan Kramer (Devon Sawa)—a veteran criminologist haunted by his past—is forced to team up with brilliant but inexperienced psychologist field agent Amelia Pembrock (Maggie Grace) for his final investigation. The case involves the kidnapping of twin teen girls in a small town. After one of the teens is found dead, Kramer and Pembrock race to find the remaining twin in hopes of catching the killer before it's too late.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Predictable and full of cliches, this psychological crime thriller is emotionally hollow, offering little evidence of its talented cast. While the stars and the initial premise of The Girl in the River are appealing, the film squanders considerable potential for character development and a plot with real impact. It feels like writer/director Brando Benetton is just going through the motions without committed conviction. Sawa and Grace's on-screen chemistry suffers as a result, with poignant moments falling flat due to dry line readings and overacting. Ironically, considering that the movie's theme boils down to "don't judge a book by its cover," the film could be seen as a cover that overhypes but underdelivers. (All of that said, Cobra Kai lovers may appreciate seeing Ralph Macchio playing a very different kind of character!)

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the appeal of crime thrillers like The Girl in the River. What makes them compelling to watch? What do they tend to have in common?

  • Did you predict the outcome of the investigation in the movie? What led you to your conclusion?

  • Did your opinion about any of the characters change as the film progressed? What caused the change?

  • Can a news story be technically true but give a misleading impression? How? How do you think social media would have affected this investigation?

Movie Details

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The Girl in the River movie poster: Devon Sawa, Maggie Grace, Ralph Macchio, and Tiffany Haddish pose against a yellow background

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