John Boorman directs this American thriller starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox. Atlanta businessmen Ed (Voight), Lewis (Reynolds), Bobby (Beatty) and Drew (Cox) take a weekend canoeing trip through the remote Appalachian wilderness before the area is flooded for a new dam. As they continue towards the river's dangerous rapids, their adventure becomes increasingly perilous as their inexperience and pride make them easy targets for the hostile locals.