River’s Edge

A curious, impulsive pre-teen who stumbles into a sequence of violent events after spying a murder. He becomes entangled with older teens, his brother, and his mother, pulling him into a crisis that tests his sense of right and wrong. The story follows his trajectory from innocence toward a complicated adulthood by exposure to crime.

A reckless teenager who brags about killing Jamie and drags others into a dangerous aftermath. His actions set the central crime in motion and reveal the fragility of moral boundaries among the group. The narrative keeps his perspective as a volatile catalyst rather than a sympathetic figure.

John's girlfriend whose murder serves as the catalyst for the town's unraveling. Her body becomes a focal point for fear, rumor, and the teens’ attempts to cope with loss. Jamie's absence haunts the characters and drives their moral decisions.

Tim's older brother, protective yet quick to anger. He becomes a flashpoint for family tension, clashing with his mother and navigating pressure from the police. His choices propel the investigation and reveal his struggle between loyalty and accountability.

A friend of Matt who recounts the party and participates in covering up the crime. His actions, choices, and later panic show how easily fear can drive people toward risky, self-serving decisions. He blends bravado with underlying insecurity.

A classmate and friend in the social circle who experiences grief and skepticism. She embodies the conflict between genuine emotion and emotional numbness that pervades the town. Her perspective contrasts with male-centered bravado.

A friend who reflects the younger generation's sense of detachment. She and Tony observe events with a mix of curiosity and passivity, highlighting how audience-like detachment can accompany tragedy. Her reactions help delineate the town's emotional mosaic.

A fellow student and member of the social circle who alternates between curiosity and fear. His responses to the crime show how the community's youth navigate risk without clear guidance. He remains a relatively peripheral but telling figure in the aftermath.

A disturbed ex-biker and drug dealer who isolates himself from society. He becomes the violent counterpoint to the teens, admitting to a past murder and ultimately killing John; his presence embodies the town's dangerous underbelly. His actions force others to confront the consequences of living with crime.

Tim's friend who participates in petty mischief and later searches for a gun; he provides a street-level viewpoint on how youths cope with danger and boredom. His choices reflect the mixed motives of wanting to belong and seeking safety.