River Returns
6.5
In 1958, as a deadly typhoon approaches, a young boy embarks on a perilous journey to a haunted mountain pool, determined to calm a sorrowful spirit whose grief has cursed the village with devastating floods.
Where to watch
Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
Your rating
Your review
Cast
14 people
Sanetoshi Ariyama
Yucha & Shiro
Also in
Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger
Cold Case: Door of Truth
Asuka Hanamura
Oyo
Known for
City Hunter
Yo Aoi
Saku
Also in
Soar High!
18/40: Unbreakable Bond of Dreams
Tomomitsu Adachi
Haruo
Known for
Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle
Cloud
Kinuo Yamada
Ayumi
Known for
Villain
Keisuke Horibe
Storyteller
Known for
Tokyo Gore Police
Fukushima 50
Tetsu Watanabe
Matsu
Known for
Princess Mononoke
Sonatine
Toshie Negishi
Batcha
Known for
When Marnie Was There
Dreams
Ken Yasuda
Tsunekichi
Known for
The Cat Returns
When Marnie Was There
Yusuke Takahashi
Kinpei
Also in
Unprecedented
We Have the Same Morning
Ryohei Matsuoka
Kai
Also in
The Albino's Trees
The Water Sprite
Sayo Ishikawa
Natsume
Also in
FAAAWWW!!!
Masakazu Kaneko Director · Genki Yoshimura Screenplay Tatsuya Yamada Cinematographer
First release November 21, 2024 · Produced in Japan · Original title 光る川
Production
Project Dawn
Production
Japan
Produced in
Languages
Original title
光る川
Original language
Japanese
Spoken on screen
Japanese
Release dates
Spain · November 21, 2024
Premiere · Gijón International Film Festival
Japan · March 22, 2025
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
Czechia
February 12, 2026 · Premiere · Eiga-Sai
Japan
February 23, 2025 · Premiere · Okinawa Pan-Pacific International Film Festival
Portugal
March 3, 2025 · Premiere · Fantasporto
South Korea
December 1, 2025 · Premiere · Seoul Independent Film Festival
Taiwan
August 24, 2025 · Premiere · Taoyuan Film Festival
More from Masakazu Kaneko
Other films they directed, best known first.
If you liked River Returns
Picks that share its genres, themes, cast and crew.
Some details come from TheTVDB.