Dark River (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Dark River is a 2018 drama thriller directed by Clio Barnard, starring Ruth Wilson as Alice Bell, Sean Bean and Una McNulty. It is inspired by Trespass by Rose Tremain. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $239,182 worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Platform Prize, Honourable Mention at the TIFF 2017. Critics gave it 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m (90 min)
- Director
- Clio Barnard
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- FilmRise
- Inspired by
- Trespass by Rose Tremain
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Dark River About?
The premise of Dark River without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After a fifteen-year absence, Alice returns to her family’s farm in the remote Yorkshire countryside. There, she finds her brother Joe living on the land, and a dispute over ownership quickly arises. As Alice attempts to reclaim her heritage, long-buried family secrets and painful memories surface, forcing her to confront a complicated past and the strained relationship with her brother. The struggle for the farm becomes a battle for recognition and a chance to heal old wounds.
Dark River Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- brother sister relationship
- farm
- rural setting
- haunted by the past
- sexual abuse
- brother sister conflict
- dark family secret
- brother sister reconciliation
- father daughter incest
- death of father
- daughter raped by father
- f rated
+38 more Show fewer
- farmhouse
- village
- homecoming
- land rover
- countryside
- sheep
- british
- waterfall
- river
- yorkshire england
- family home
- dysfunctional family
- abuse
- farming
- disagreement
- inheritance
- alcoholism
- memory
- flashback
- disrepair
- run down property
- abusive father
- guilt
- resentment
- child abuse victim
- accidental murder
- neighbor murders neighbor
- dog attack
- taking the blame for someone else
- hare
- dog
- underwater scene
- herd of sheep
- police
- prison
- post punk
- incest
- sheep farm
Dark River Cast & Characters
Ruth Wilson leads the cast as Alice Bell, with Sean Bean as Richard Bell and Una McNulty as Susan Bell. Directed by Clio Barnard; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Director Clio Barnard
-
Ruth Wilson as Alice Bell -
Sean Bean as Richard Bell - Una McNulty as Susan Bell
- Mark Stanley as Joe Bell
Also Starring in Dark River
· 6 more- Dean Andrews Matty
- Jonah Russell Pete
- Steve Garti Jim
- Esme Creed-Miles Young Alice
- Shane Attwooll Tower
- Aiden McCullough Young Joe
More from Clio Barnard
More films directed by Clio Barnard, best-rated first: The Arbor, The Selfish Giant, Ali & Ava and Random Acts of Intimacy.
Dark River Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Dark River 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 74/100, strongest in art & craft (88) and weakest in story & flow (60).
Dark River Echo Score Breakdown
In overall terms, Dark River excels in its visual craftsmanship and strong central performances but struggles with narrative consistency. The photography and direction establish an immersive, moody atmosphere, and the acting brings depth to the sibling relationship. However, the pacing often feels deliberately slow and the plot can be obscured by deliberate ambiguity. The film sustains a compelling sense of tragedy but occasionally lapses into inert stretches. Ultimately, it offers a powerful emotional impact tempered by moments of narrative drag.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 88
In terms of art and craft, the film’s direction and cinematography stand out as definitive strengths. The assured framing and expressive composition create a vividly atmospheric sense of place. Production design and editing contribute to the austere, immersive mood. Critics consistently note the lavish but restrained visuals and inventive camera work. Overall, the film presents a high level of visual craftsmanship.
- Character & Emotion 82
When it comes to character and emotion, performances are the film’s anchor. Ruth Wilson’s portrayal conveys deep, tortured resilience, and the interplay between the siblings feels authentic and compelling. Some viewers find the emotional undercurrent underdeveloped, citing a lack of warmth. Nevertheless, the nuanced performances deliver significant emotional weight and depth to the central relationship.
- Story & Flow 60
The story and flow of Dark River exhibit both compelling tragedy and notable unevenness. The narrative builds tension through measured pacing and classic tragic structure, but deliberate obscurity in the writing sometimes hampers clarity. Several critics describe moments of narrative inertia and hazy drama. Despite these flaws, the film maintains engagement through its thematic depth and impending sense of doom.
- Sensory Experience 80
In terms of sensory experience, the film excels in creating a haunting, immersive atmosphere. The bleak sound design and evocative score underscore the oppressive setting, while the visual style employs an understated color palette and precise composition. The result is a moodily cohesive sensory landscape. Overall, the sensory elements effectively reinforce the film’s somber tone.
- Rewatch Factor 62
Regarding rewatch factor, Dark River offers memorable imagery and potent performances that linger after viewing. Its austere visuals and emotional tension can reward repeat viewings for thematic details. However, the slow pacing and occasional narrative opacity may deter some audiences from revisiting. On balance, the film has moderate replay value with selective appeal.
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IMDb 5.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 82% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 61%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 69 Metascore
User score 6.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 56% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.2 /5
See on Letterboxd
Dark River Plot Summary
What happens in Dark River from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Alice Bell is a sheep shearer on a rural farm who gets along well with her coworkers. When Richard Bell dies, he had told her she would inherit his tenancy, so she quits to honor that promise. Returning to the farm, she is haunted by vivid flashbacks of her father entering her bedroom and holding her in bed.
Back at the farm, her brother, Joe Bell, is absent at first. He returns and is angry at her for turning up after their father’s death and after fifteen years apart, but over time he warms to her—only to flare up again when he discovers she has applied to take over the tenancy.
Full summary
The whole story of Dark River, scene by scene
Dark River Box Office
Dark River grossed $239,182 worldwide. $7,714 came from the US and Canada and $231,468 (97%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$239.2K
- US & Canada
- $7.7K
- International
- $231.5K
Dark River Awards & Nominations
Dark River earned 1 award nomination, including Platform Prize, Honourable Mention at the TIFF 2017.
1 nomination1 ceremony
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TIFF 2017 1 nomination- Nominated Platform Prize, Honourable Mention – Clio Barnard
Dark River Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.
- Teaser
How Well Do You Know Dark River?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Alice's occupation at the beginning of the film?
Dark River Also Known As
10 alternative titles, including “Σκοτεινός Ποταμός” and “Karanlık Nehir”.
- Also known as
-
- Σκοτεινός Ποταμός
- Karanlık Nehir
- 다크 리버
- Река на тъмата
- Mroczna rzeka
- Темная река
- O Retorno
- Sötét folyó
- נהר אפל
- 暗流
Seen Dark River?
Movies Like Dark River
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Dark, The Dark and the Wicked and Silence & Darkness.
Dark River FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Dark River, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Dark River?
Dark River runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
When was Dark River released?
Dark River was released on June 29, 2018.
Who directed Dark River?
Dark River was directed by Clio Barnard.
More films by Clio Barnard Who is in the cast of Dark River?
Dark River stars Ruth Wilson as Alice Bell, Sean Bean as Richard Bell and Una McNulty as Susan Bell, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Dark River make at the box office?
Dark River grossed $239,182 worldwide ($7,714 domestic, $231,468 international).
How is Dark River rated?
Dark River has 5.9/10 on IMDb, 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic and 56% on TMDB.
Was Dark River nominated for any awards?
Dark River received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does Dark River have a post-credit scene?
No. Dark River has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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