Cold River

One of the last releases by Pacific International Enterprises (the folks behind the WILDERNESS FAMILY movies), COLD RIVER seems to have been a troubled production. Many of the tell-tale signs can be seen in the closing credits, which list a 1979 copyright date and an unusual number of assistant directors and photographers. It's also evident in the movie itself, mainly from a present day prologue and epilogue. These bookends not only barely connect with the events in the main body, but has no real satisfying conclusion - just like the main story told between them!

The rest of the movie is pretty unsatisfying as well. Despite being almost completely shot outdoors, the movie is surprisingly dull to look at, due both to dark and murky photography and bland locations. It also moves at a pace that's slow as our protagonists trudging through the snow. The kids don't have that much dialogue (that's of real substance, anyway), so it's hard to get involved in their hardship and struggle. Robert Earl Jones does add a little life temporarily when his character appears.

I haven't read the novel this movie is based on (which must be popular, because it's still in print after about three decades), but I'm pretty confident fans of it will be disappointed with this adaptation.

Granted, this film is based on the young adult novel entitled "Cold River." It's set in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York far away from New York City. It was also filmed on location as it follows a father, his young daughter Lizzie, and her stepbrother Tim as they rough it in 1923 in the woods. The story is deliverance for kids without being too gory. Although once the kids are on their own, they have to use their skills in order to survive in Adirondack Mountains. The other actors in the film include the wonderful and legendary Elizabeth Hubbard who plays mom and stepmother in the film. Even for a few minutes, she's worth watching. The kids' journey to survive is a long battle against nature and evil as well in the woods. The winter is pretty rough in upstate New York near Canada. The film director showed how brutal it can be while filming on location. Most films aren't made much in upstate New York.

This movie was kind of good, ruined by poor acting and the stupid kids. The locations, however, were lovely and well photographed. I don't know what else to say, except for the fact that you'll have to look pretty hard to find this film. I don't believe you can buy it any more, and nearly impossible to rent.

Could really use a remake...Original needed more effort..I agree with a earlier review of exceedingly dull cinematography for such a beautiful and dramatic place( a winter shot of the Seward range near Cold River would have been nice!)..pretty dull writing as well ...I will say in the age of email, Wiki and Google a producer and director can easily find and add better and more accurate detail (i.e. the canoe is actually an Adirondack Guide Boat ..a beautiful boat, and native to that region of the Adirondacks) ..Could have integrated some the of more colorful hermits and guides of the Adirondacks too but I did enjoy it was shot on location in an area I know well!

I'm giving this film high marks because I enjoyed the scenery, screenplay and acting. There are gripping moments to this story, and the violence which occurs is suspenseful. Sure, it's somewhat episodic, and the direction is choppy at times, but I am a fan of films without "filler", especially when they take place in the wilderness, where attempts to create distractions can pervert the experience of true setting. This is a story about a stepsister and stepbrother lost in the wilderness and learning some lessons about hardships and personal bonds. It is not for the attention-span deficient. The action which takes place is satisfying, and I enjoyed the casual pace of the story leading up to the denouement. Acting is strong, and there are good morals to the story also.