Paul Schrader has adapted Paul Theroux's novel faithfully - it's the exact same plot. And really something of a tragedy as Harrison Ford wants to get his family back to basics so they relocate to La Mesquitia, Honduras. Things start well with building and farming, then he gets carried away and builds a monstrous and hideous ice factory, which ends up causing his downfall. And ironically, which is so chemical based it poisons the river. The explosion is a bravura sequence, quite unsettling, made more so by the inclusion of some ghastly sound effects (like animals) - a big team - all I can suggest is that Mark Berger is the Supervising rerecording Mixer (The Pledge, The Talented Mr Ripley, The English Patient).
Anyway it makes him crazier and more determined to get away from civilization which his sons, River Phoenix and Jadrien Steele are beginning to resent. He's so selfish. I don't know why 'Mother' Helen Mirren doesn't put her foot down - I guess she's not as strong a character.
River narrates, trying to balance his dad's craziness with his own sense of loyalty.
Andre Gregory plays a preacher who's on the brink of madness himself. Martha Plimpton's his daughter. And believe it or not, there's a small appearance from Butterfly McQueen.
It's a vivid film, well acted and put together, filmed with two crews in Belize. John Seale is the DP, Maurice Jarre the composer. John Soddart's the production designer, Thom Nobel the editor.
I remember not enjoying it the first time round. It's a depressing tragedy, but ironic and interesting, and at least he dies in the end! (And neither of his sons have had to kill him.) Unsurprisingly, it didn't do particularly well at the box office.
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