I have no nostalgic ties to the film, which seems to be the only valid reason anyone could derive even an ounce of enjoyment from it today.
Unfortunately, Way Upstream feels dreadfully dated and suffers from hopelessly wooden acting. The soundtrack is grating, akin to fingernails scraping down a blackboard, making it an ordeal to endure.
The cinematography fails to capture the charm of the English riverside, instead framing the entire film with uninspired, drab scenes dominated by bleak, uninteresting water. There's little to no scenic interest, and the movie spends far too much time focusing on the dull, dank surroundings.
I struggle to find any positives in this film. It's a painfully boring flashback to the 1980s and serves as a comprehensive lesson in how not to make a movie for a modern audience. Way Upstream is absolutely one to avoid.
