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Thriller

River Runs Red (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

River Runs Red (2018) movie poster

River Runs Red is a 2018 thriller directed by Wes Miller, starring Taye Diggs as Charles Coleman, Sr., Luke Hemsworth and Gianni Capaldi. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes and earned $65,167 worldwide on a $2.5 million budget. Critics gave it 22% on Rotten Tomatoes and 26 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.4/10.

IMDb rating
4.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
22%
worldwide gross
$65.2K
Echo Score
30
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River Runs Red (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 34m (94 min)
Director
Wes Miller
Genre
Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$2.5M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is River Runs Red About?

The premise of River Runs Red without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

After a tragic traffic stop results in loss of life, a father and a judge, consumed by grief, decide to deliver their own brand of justice. Driven by a desire for retribution, they embark on a dangerous path, blurring the lines between right and wrong as they seek to punish those responsible. Their quest challenges the legal system and explores the complexities of morality when faced with devastating loss.

River Runs Red Themes & Keywords

· 8 tags
  • judge
  • louisville kentucky
  • car chase
  • shootout
  • car crash
  • revenge
  • f word
  • subtitled scene
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Cast & crew

River Runs Red Cast & Characters

Taye Diggs leads the cast as Charles Coleman, Sr., with Luke Hemsworth as Von and Gianni Capaldi as Rory. Directed by Wes Miller; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in River Runs Red

· 6 more
From the director

More from Wes Miller

More films directed by Wes Miller: Black Heat, Call Her King, A Day to Die and Hell on the Border.

Full filmography
Ratings

River Runs Red Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave River Runs Red 22% on Rotten Tomatoes and 26 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 30/100, strongest in character & emotion (40) and weakest in rewatch factor (25).

30 /100

River Runs Red Echo Score Breakdown

The film’s critical reception is predominantly negative, driven by widespread concerns about its execution and engagement. Many critics and users noted uneven pacing, weak performances, and a disjointed narrative that fails to sustain interest. Although a few remarks highlighted its thematic significance and occasional emotional moments, these are overshadowed by pervasive criticisms of amateurish direction and flawed storytelling. On balance, the film leaves a largely unsatisfying impression with limited strengths compared to its shortcomings.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 30

    In terms of art and craft, the film’s technical execution is underwhelming. Critics point to uncertain framing, perfunctory direction, and intrusive music as detracting from production quality. Visual composition feels uneven and editing struggles to establish a cohesive rhythm in early scenes. The sporadic uptick in quality later is insufficient to offset the initial amateurish presentation. Overall, the film’s art and craft elements remain a significant weakness.

  • Character & Emotion 40

    In terms of character and emotion, performances are inconsistent. Several reviewers cite stiff acting and mismatched chemistry among the leads, although George Lopez’s serious turn and occasional emotional beats receive mild praise. The narrative’s character depth is limited by a schematic scenario, reducing opportunities for genuine resonance. While some moments achieve effective attachment, the uneven portrayal undermines sustained emotional engagement. As a result, character impact is mixed and generally weak.

  • Story & Flow 35

    When it comes to story and flow, the narrative suffers from sluggish pacing and inconsistent coherence. Early sections are described as perfunctory, and the dramatic shift toward the climax introduces genre elements that feel abrupt. Users and critics note a meandering plot until late in the runtime, leaving many scenes feeling unnecessary. A handful of thematic observations on justice and revenge add some substance, but overall the storyline fails to maintain engagement. Consequently, the story remains a core shortcoming.

  • Sensory Experience 30

    In terms of sensory experience, the film’s audio-visual components are largely problematic. The soundtrack is often described as intrusive mush, while sound design lacks subtlety and visual style is undeveloped. There are no standout sequences that redeem the overall soundscape or visual cohesion. Occasional effective editing at the midpoint does little to elevate the presentation. In summary, the sensory aspects offer minimal enhancement and contribute little to viewer immersion.

  • Rewatch Factor 25

    Regarding rewatch factor, the film offers limited incentive for repeat viewings. Users discourage revisiting due to a poorly executed plot and underwhelming performances, and critics identify little lasting appeal beyond its topical premise. The austere tone and sporadic coherence fail to develop a compelling resonance that typically rewards subsequent watchings. Any thematic importance is overshadowed by structural flaws. Overall, the film’s rewatch value remains low.

Plot

River Runs Red Plot Summary

What happens in River Runs Red from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The tragic tale begins with the murder of Charles Coleman, Sr.’s son, CJ, at the hands of two police officers, Von and Rory. The media would later claim that CJ, portrayed as a criminal, was carrying a gun, but the truth was much more heart-wrenching. Charles, an esteemed judge played by Taye Diggs, had dedicated his life to serving justice, often recounting the words of his idol, Muhammad Ali, who stood firm for his beliefs. Amidst the daily grind of his legal career, he cherished a loving relationship with CJ, who was just starting out on his new professional journey.

Full summary

The whole story of River Runs Red, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

River Runs Red Box Office & Budget

River Runs Red grossed $65,167 worldwide on a $2.5 million budget. $9,893 came from the US and Canada and $55,274 (85%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$65.2K

US & Canada
$9.9K
International
$55.3K
Budget
$2.5M
US & Canada 15% Rest of the world 85%
Videos

River Runs Red Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

Trailer
  • Clip River Runs Red (2018) - Clips - Our Son Is Not A Cause
Quiz

How Well Do You Know River Runs Red?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the father of Charles Coleman Jr.?

Cars

Cars in River Runs Red

27 cars on screen, including the 1997 Honda CR-V and the 2016 BMW 750i G12.

All 27 cars
  • 1997 Honda CR-V in River Runs Red 1997 Honda CR-V Main role
  • 2016 BMW 750i G12 in River Runs Red 2016 BMW 750i G12 Important role
  • 2006 Chevrolet Malibu in River Runs Red 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Important role
  • 2006 Dodge Charger in River Runs Red 2006 Dodge Charger Important role
Details

River Runs Red Also Known As

15 alternative titles, including “Реките стават червени” and “Rios de sangre”.

Also known as
  • Реките стават червени
  • Rios de sangre
  • Nel nome del figlio
  • Cops Incrimination
  • Nehir Kırmızı Akar
  • W rzece krwi
  • Красная река
  • Banho de Sangue
  • Реката тече в червено
  • Tag der Vergeltung - Ein Vater sieht rot
  • נהר אדום פועל
  • 河流如血
+3 more
  • Ríos de sangre
  • 復仇追緝令
  • 리버 런스 레드

Seen River Runs Red?

FAQ

River Runs Red FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of River Runs Red, each answered in a sentence.

How long is River Runs Red?

River Runs Red runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).

When was River Runs Red released?

River Runs Red was released on November 9, 2018.

Who directed River Runs Red?

River Runs Red was directed by Wes Miller.

More films by Wes Miller

Who is in the cast of River Runs Red?

River Runs Red stars Taye Diggs as Charles Coleman, Sr., Luke Hemsworth as Von and Gianni Capaldi as Rory, among 10 credited actors.

How much did River Runs Red make at the box office?

River Runs Red grossed $65,167 worldwide ($9,893 domestic, $55,274 international) on a budget of $2.5 million.

How is River Runs Red rated?

River Runs Red has 4.4/10 on IMDb, 22% on Rotten Tomatoes, 26 on Metacritic and 53% on TMDB.

Does River Runs Red have a post-credit scene?

No. River Runs Red has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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