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The River: Season 1
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Feb 7, 2012
  • Season #: 1
The River Image
Metascore
65 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.2 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 82 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: The search for explorer Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood) in the Amazon jungle by his family and friends is the focus of this series created by the writers of the "Paranormal Activity" movies.
  • Genre(s): Action/Adventure, Science-Fiction, Drama

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    Feb 3, 2012
    100
    The scares are not as over-the-top as American Horror Story but more chilling because they're applied glancingly. [13 Feb 2012, p.44]
    All this critic's reviews
  2. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Feb 7, 2012
    90
    The River is a terrifying heart-stopper, a cleverly cinematic supernatural adventure that takes us on a wild ride into an exotic heart of darkness.
  3. The Huffington Post (formerly AOL TV)
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    Feb 7, 2012
    60
    The River isn't terrible, and it actually has some effective elements, but it's fairly indicative of ABC's post-"Lost" flailing.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 39
  3. Negative: 15 out of 39
  1. kap
    10
    I absolutely am hooked by this show. Has a fair amount of tense moments as well as an addictive plot line. It has become my Tuesday night routine and will miss it after the season is over.… Expand
    • 3 of 3 users said yes
  2. AlexBugella
    5
    I have mixed feelings about this show. I didnt like how this is shoot like "found footage" , its really not because there are times where characters are alone and theres really about 4 different angles that are switched through when theres only 2 camera men. Anyway, the premise of the show is that these people are searching for a guy who did this show in the wild and he mysteriously disappeared, and they uncover that there was more to his appearance, supernatural things. The story isnt very strong at all and the episodes are very disconnected since theres a different supernatural occurrence or entity in the wild. Other than that the episodes are sometimes interesting, although i havent been keeping up. Overall, Its a very "Meh" show and i dont expect it to get very far… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. reeleyes
    3
    I like this for the cast: Joe Anderson, Bruce Greenwood and the rest. Sometimes one has to watch a show just to see the performers exercise their chops. And, once again, Spielberg's influence in the background will probably render this like his god-awful Terra Nova and Falling Skies - dull.… Expand
    • 3 of 4 users said yes

See all 39 User Reviews