I assume you are referring to the 1994 American thriller film “The River Wild”, starring Meryl Streep, Kevin Bacon and David Strathairn.
The film follows Gail Harris (Streep), a divorced mother who takes her son Roarke (Joseph Mazzello) on a white-water rafting trip down the Salmon River in Idaho. Along the way, they are joined by Tom (Bacon), Gail’s ex-husband, and their dog, Maggie.
Their trip takes a dangerous turn when they are taken hostage by two armed fugitives, Frank (Strathairn) and Terry (John C. McGinley). Gail is forced to use her rafting skills to navigate the treacherous rapids while also trying to protect her son and the others from her captors.
The film was directed by Curtis Hanson and written by Denis O’Neill. It was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $94 million worldwide. Streep was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.