In “The River Wild”, former river guide Gail Hartman (Meryl Streep) must save herself and her family from dangerous river rapids and two criminals on the run. While on a family rafting trip Gail, her husband Tom (David Strathairn), and their son Rourke (Joseph Mazzello) encounter two men, Wade (Kevin Bacon) and Terry (John C. Reilly), that at first appear to be novice rafters. After the Hartmans offer aid and advice, Wade and Terry invite themselves to join their trip. Soon it is revealed that the strangers have committed an armed robbery and the river is their escape route. A dangerous section of the river ahead has been closed to rafters. If Wade and Terry can get past it they will elude capture but they need Gail’s skills to succeed. Tom tries to get Wade’s gun but is forced to flee leaving Gail to protect her son and thwart her captors. If she does not escape before getting through the rapids she knows they will no longer need her and her life is in jeopardy.