Film buffs are supposed to watch all kinds of movies, but I believe they are slightly biased when it comes to thriller dramas. And why not? Thriller dramas are exciting to watch. If you like to watch thriller drama movies, then I bet you’ve seen River Wild (2023). You must have also noticed the movie’s picturesque filming spots, as it was mostly shot in real locations. In this article, I’ll discuss the movie and tell you where was River Wild filmed.
River Wild follows a pair of siblings who invite a few other friends on their rafting adventure. When things get out of control, their rafting adventure quickly becomes their worst nightmare. The thriller drama film features Leighton Meester, Taran Killam, Adam Brody, Olivia Swann, Eve Connolly, and Matt Devere.
Adam Brody rose to fame after starring as Seth Cohen on the Fox original series The O.C. On the other hand, Taram Killam is a multi-talented person who is not only a gifted actor but is also a stand-up comedian, writer, and producer.
Now let us talk about where was River Wild filmed; the thriller drama flick was filmed in Hungary, Slovakia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina.
River Wild is directed by Ben Ketai, who wrote the screenplay along with Mike Nguyen Le. The thriller drama film was released on 1st August 2023 in the United States. However, as you know about the movie, let’s look closely at the filming locations.
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Where Was River Wild Filmed? Filming Locations Of Rafting Adventure Thriller!!
The 2023 River Wild is a remake of the classic 1994 Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon starrer film The River Wild. Curtis Hanson directed it, and it turned out to be a box office hit back in the day. However, the 2023 thriller drama film did not receive a theatrical release as it is a television film. The movie was directly released on digital platforms.
The director of the film, Ben Ketai, is an American screenwriter, filmmaker, and producer who is mostly known for his slasher films and thriller dramas. Not to mention, he has also directed a few horror movies. Having said that, River Wild scored 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and got a rating of 5.5 on IMDb. However, let’s get to the point and jump into the details of where was River Wild filmed.
Hungary
The thriller River Wild was filmed in multiple locations, but a major portion was shot in Hungary. Principal photography began in July 2022. Hungary is in Central Europe and borders Croatia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine. The movie’s story is set in the state of Idaho in America, but the production team wanted to shoot in Europe to take advantage of Hungary’s beauty and spectacular eeriness.
Hungary was undoubtedly a perfect choice for filming the movie, as the production team knew where and how the scenes would be shot. Although, it’s difficult to say which sequences were filmed in Hungary. But some whitewater rafting scenes were possibly shot on the Danube River, Europe’s second-longest river.
Slovakia
Slovakia was the production team’s second choice. It is quite close to Hungary, making it easier for the cast and crew to travel back and forth during the production process. Austria, Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Poland border Slovakia. The country has a population of over 5.4 million.
Slovakia is home to some of the most magnificent castles in Europe, hot springs, and caves. It is also known for its folk architecture. Slovakia’s forest areas, rivers, and waterfalls were used to film several scenes. Interestingly, during the filming period in Slovakia, the cast had to go through some serious training involving rafting courses at an Olympic Games training facility which is located in the town of Liptovský Mikuláš.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The country of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the last and final filming location. The country is in the Balkan region in southeastern Europe and borders Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro. Bosnia and Herzegovina is home to three primary ethnic groups with a population of over 3.4 million. The country is widely known for its many medieval villages.
The most famous tourist attraction in the country is the 16th-century Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque, situated in the capital of Sarajevo. The Ottoman-era Latin bridge is also a tourist attraction as it was where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, which started the First World War.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the cast talked about their thrilling experience while shooting the film. Leighton Meester talked about how amazing it was to work with her husband, Adam Brody, and one of her close friends, Terry Killam. She also discussed the weather, as it was quite hot and sometimes made it difficult for the production team to shoot.
Plot Of River Wild (2023) | Joey And Gray’s Rafting Trip!
The story of River Wild revolves around Joey, played by Leighton Meester, and Gray, played by Taran Killam. Joey and Gray are siblings. Both of them are rafting enthusiasts. They go on an adventurous rafting trip and invite a few friends, including Trevor, played by Adam Brody, Gray’s childhood buddy. But Trevor has issues as he had a difficult and troubled past.
On their whitewater rafting adventure, they encounter raging rapids. Eventually, they are stranded, and the exciting trip immediately turns into their worst nightmare. Soon, Joey and Gray realize that Trevor is not the person he claims to be, as they feel he has some other plans that could be dangerous to both of them and others.
Final Words
Have you ever been to any of the above-mentioned European countries? Well, if you haven’t yet, that’s okay. But now you have an idea of how amazing these places are. So, think about it and make a plan soon. If you are a sucker for a good thriller drama film, ensure you don’t miss out on River Wild. However, to review more such fascinating articles, check the Oldflamescandles website.
Is River Wild Available On Netflix?
Yes, River Wild is available on Netflix.
Is River Wild A PG-13 Rated Film?
Yes, River Wild is a PG-13 rated film.
Who Produced The Thriller Drama Film, River Wild?
Ogden Gavanski, Jonathan Halperyn, Anita Juka, Daniel Kresmery, and Rasto Kuril produced the thriller drama film, River Wild.
Is River Wild Based On A Novel?
No, River Wild is not based on a novel.
Is River Wild Available In Any Other Language?
No, River Wild is only available in English.