Forensic psychologist thriller squanders its promising murder mystery
"The Girl in the River" is a police procedural thriller about detectives investigating the murder of a teenager and searching for her missing twin. The film begins with an intriguingly clumsy crime scene that initially suggests deeper community mysteries, but the review argues it fails to capitalise on this setup, delivering instead an implausible investigation that relies on convenient plotting rather than genuine detective work.
The film stars Devon Sawa as detective Alan Kramer and Maggie Grace as forensic psychologist Amelia Pembrock as they pursue local butcher Boris (Darron Dunbar). The supporting cast features Tiffany Haddish as a police captain and Ralph Macchio as a coroner, representing familiar noir archetypes. Despite criticism of the script's clichés and contrived plot mechanics, the review credits fast pacing and solid performances from Grace and Sawa for keeping it watchable; the film arrives on digital platforms on 19 October.
- Police thriller squanders promising setup with implausible investigation and convenient plot devices.
- Strong performances can't overcome familiar noir tropes and lack of dramatic weight.
- Available on digital platforms 19 October despite significant critical reservations.
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"The Girl in the River" is a police procedural thriller arriving on digital platforms in October 2026. The film centres on detectives investigating the murder of a teenager and the disappearance of her identical twin. The story begins with a crime scene that suggests deeper community mysteries.
The investigation is led by Detective Alan Kramer and forensic psychologist Amelia Pembrock, portrayed by Devon Sawa and Maggie Grace. A supporting cast includes Tiffany Haddish as a police captain and Ralph Macchio as a coroner in familiar crime drama roles. The detectives pursue a local butcher as their primary suspect.
Police procedural thrillers have been a popular entertainment format for decades, appealing to audiences who enjoy mysteries combined with investigative drama. The success of such films typically depends on whether the central case feels genuinely intriguing and the investigation appears credible. Critical reviews of the genre help audiences decide whether a particular film delivers on these expectations.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “The Girl in the River review – forensic psychologist police procedural thriller plays like noir parody”.