Google the phrase "Take Me to the River movie" and you're going to hit a bit of a digital fork in the road. Honestly, it’s one of those classic Wikipedia rabbit holes where you click for a documentary about Memphis soul and end up staring at a plot summary for a deeply unsettling indie thriller set in a Nebraska barn.
You’ve probably been there.
There are actually two distinct films with this title—plus a sequel—and they couldn't be more different if they tried. One is a vibrant, foot-stomping celebration of American music history. The other is a "slow-burn" psychological drama that makes your skin crawl in that specific way only A24-adjacent indies can.
If you're looking for the Take Me to the River movie Wikipedia entry, you need to know which river you're actually trying to cross. Let's break down why these films matter and what most people get wrong when they start digging into the credits.
The 2015 Thriller: A Family Reunion From Hell
Most people searching for the "movie" version are usually looking for Matt Sobel’s 2015 directorial debut. It stars Logan Miller as Ryder, a gay teenager from California who heads to Nebraska for a family reunion.
His mom, played by the always-excellent Robin Weigert, begs him not to come out to their conservative relatives. Ryder agrees, but he doesn't exactly "blend in." He shows up in tiny red shorts and sunglasses, looking like a total alien in the middle of a dusty farm.
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Then things get weird.
His nine-year-old cousin, Molly, takes him to a barn. She comes out screaming with blood on her dress. The movie doesn't show you what happened. That’s the point. It lets the audience's brain go to the darkest possible place, mirroring the immediate suspicion of the Nebraskan relatives.
Why this version sticks with you
The film is basically a masterclass in atmospheric dread. It’s not a "horror" movie in the traditional sense, but it feels like a nightmare. Sobel actually based the setting on his own family’s farm in Nebraska. He’s mentioned in interviews that the "fish out of water" feeling was something he lived.
- The Cast: Logan Miller is perfect as the befuddled Ryder. Josh Hamilton (who you might know from Eighth Grade) plays Uncle Keith, and he is genuinely terrifying without ever raising his voice.
- The "Incident": The scene in the barn was reportedly recut over 30 times. Sobel wanted to dial in the exact level of ambiguity so the audience wouldn't know who to trust.
- The Ending: Don't expect a neat bow. It’s one of those endings that leaves you sitting in silence while the credits roll, wondering if anyone in that family is actually "sane."
The 2014 Documentary: A Love Letter to Memphis
Now, if you were expecting Snoop Dogg and Mavis Staples, you've landed on the 2014 documentary directed by Martin Shore. This is the "other" Take Me to the River, and it’s a completely different vibe.
This film is a gorgeous look at the musical DNA of Memphis and the Mississippi Delta. It follows the recording of a new album that brought together legends from Stax and Sun Records with modern rappers and blues artists.
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Think about it: you’ve got Terrence Howard narrating and performing alongside icons like William Bell, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and Yo Gotti. It’s about mentorship. It’s about how the "Memphis sound" didn't just die out—it evolved into hip-hop.
The Documentary Standouts
- Intergenerational Magic: Watching 80-year-old soul singers teach 15-year-old rappers about phrasing is gold.
- The Soundtrack: It’s legendary. It features the last sessions of several artists who passed away shortly after filming, including Charles "Skip" Pitts.
- The Civil Rights Connection: It doesn't just play the hits. It digs into how the death of Martin Luther King Jr. effectively killed the Stax label and changed the city's soul forever.
The "New Orleans" Sequel
Because things aren't confusing enough, Martin Shore released a follow-up in 2022 called Take Me to the River: New Orleans.
This one follows the same "collaborative" blueprint but moves the party to the Crescent City. You get the Neville Brothers, Dr. John (in some of his final recordings), and Big Freedia. If the 2014 doc was about the birth of soul and rap, the New Orleans version is about the "Habanera tempo" and how world music basically started at Congo Square.
It’s educational, sure, but it feels more like a backyard barbecue than a history lecture.
Which one should you watch?
It really depends on your mood. Honestly, don't watch the 2015 drama if you're looking for an upbeat Friday night movie. It’s heavy. It deals with homophobia, family secrets, and the kind of "polite" Midwestern hostility that feels like a slap in the face.
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On the flip side, the documentaries are essential viewing for anyone who cares about why music sounds the way it does today.
Quick Fact Check for your Trivia Night:
- The Song: Both titles are a nod to the Al Green classic, "Take Me to the River," written by Green and Mabon "Teenie" Hodges.
- The Singing Fish: Yes, that's the song the "Big Mouth Billy Bass" sings. Teenie Hodges once joked he made more money from the plastic fish than any other version of the song.
- The Sundance Connection: The 2015 drama premiered at Sundance, while the 2014 doc was an Audience Award winner at SXSW.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that the 2015 movie is a "coming out" story. It’s really not. While Ryder’s sexuality is a catalyst for the tension, the movie is more about the toxic ways families protect their own secrets at the expense of the truth.
It’s a story about shame, not identity.
Also, a lot of people think the documentary is just a concert film. It’s much more of a "behind-the-scenes" process movie. You’re in the room when the tracks are being laid down. You see the mistakes, the arguments, and the "aha!" moments when a drum beat finally clicks.
Your Next Steps for Exploring These Films
If you’re ready to dive deeper than just the Take Me to the River movie Wikipedia page, here is the best way to consume this "accidental franchise":
- Start with the 2014 Documentary: It provides the historical context for the title and sets a high bar for the music. It's available on most major streaming platforms like Amazon or Apple TV.
- Listen to the Soundtracks First: Especially for the New Orleans film. The collaboration between Snoop Dogg and William Bell on "Yes We Can Can" is something you didn't know you needed in your life.
- Watch the 2015 Drama with a Friend: You are going to want to talk about that ending. Trust me. It's the kind of film that requires a "debrief" session afterward.
- Check the Credits: If you're a fan of indie film, look up the cinematographer for the 2015 version, Thomas Scott Stanton. He uses "primary colors like a child's coloring book" to make the creepy scenes feel even more surreal.
The "River" is wide, and whether you're looking for soul music or a psychological sweat, there's a version of this story that's probably going to haunt—or inspire—you for a while.