The Girl in the River (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

The Girl in the River follows a seasoned criminologist and a young psychologist drawn into a troubling Mississippi case involving a murdered child and her missing twin. Directed and written by Brando Benetton, the 2026 crime thriller features Maggie Grace, Devon Sawa, Tiffany Haddish and Ralph Macchio.

The Girl in the River is a 2026 crime thriller built around a disturbing investigation in a remote Mississippi town. The case begins with the murder of a little girl and the disappearance of her twin sister.

Brando Benetton directs and writes the film, which brings together Maggie Grace, Devon Sawa, Tiffany Haddish, Ralph Macchio and Cody Lemmon. Its premise centers on two investigators confronting a mystery shaped by absence, secrecy and a child’s death.

The Girl in the River movie details

Story without spoilers

A seasoned criminologist and a young female psychologist are brought to a remote town in Mississippi to investigate two connected events: the murder of a little girl and the disappearance of her twin sister. As they work to understand what happened, the case places their professional skills against a mystery where the missing child may hold the key to the truth.

The supplied premise establishes an investigative crime story with thriller elements. It does not reveal the identities of those involved, the investigators’ relationship, or how the search develops, so those details remain part of the film’s central mystery.

What to expect

The film’s crime-thriller setup points to an investigation driven by a serious child-murder case and a disappearance. The remote Mississippi setting gives the story a defined geographical backdrop, while the pairing of an experienced criminologist with a younger psychologist creates a two-investigator framework.

The premise also suggests a mystery involving concealed information, reflected in the supplied tagline, “Every lie floats to the surface.” Beyond that setup, the available information does not establish specific plot twists, tone, visual choices or ending details.

Cast and creative team

Brando Benetton serves as both director and writer of The Girl in the River. The cast includes Maggie Grace, Devon Sawa, Tiffany Haddish and Ralph Macchio. Cody Lemmon is credited as Luke. Character details for the other listed cast members were not supplied.

• Maggie Grace
• Devon Sawa
• Tiffany Haddish
• Ralph Macchio
• Cody Lemmon as Luke

Release and production context

The Girl in the River is listed as a 2026 United States production in English. Its release date is September 4, 2026. The film has a crime and thriller classification, and no runtime is provided in the supplied information. Production companies include Andrew Stevens Entertainment, Black Diamond Films, Eyevox Entertainment and HBK F.C.

Production companies: Andrew Stevens Entertainment, Black Diamond Films, Eyevox Entertainment, HBK F.C.

The Girl in the River official trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube

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With its focus on a murdered child, a missing twin and two investigators working in an isolated Mississippi town, The Girl in the River is positioned as a mystery-led crime thriller. The available details establish the case and principal creative team while leaving the investigation’s answers unrevealed.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb