Did you feel any particular emotional response to the image of this deceased girl? Tim Hunter directed River’s Edge, and Neal Jimenez wrote the screenplay. The cast includes Crispin Glover, Keanu Reeves, Ione Skye, Daniel Roebuck, Dennis Hopper, Joshua John Miller, Roxana Zal, and Josh Richman. Jürgen Knieper composed the music, and Frederick Elmes was responsible for the cinematography. The story centers on a group of high school students who find out that one of their acquaintances has killed his girlfriend, and they each respond in different ways to this event. Inspired by an actual murder case from 1981, "River's Edge" is a disturbing film that examines the darker side of American youth culture. It was naturally controversial when it came out, but it’s also a remarkably bold depiction of young people who feel alienated from their homes and schools. The reactions of each person in the group are unsettling and hard to understand given what really happened. The script is well-written because it avoids portraying the teenagers as villains for their strange behavior after this tragedy; instead, we see nuanced characterizations that are effectively brought to life by the young actors. Dennis Hopper delivers another unusual performance—he also appeared in Blue Velvet that same year—as a former biker and drug dealer with his own history of violence who has developed a relationship with an inflatable doll named Ellie. This film is troubling in many respects, presenting a kind of nihilistic end for youth, but it’s handled with a surprising calmness and honesty, which makes it remain significant even after all this time. 7.5/10

Source on TMDB