Dizisarecklessteenagedrifterlivinglifeontherun.Abandonedbyhisparentsasachild,helooksoutforhimselfanddoesn'taccepthandouts.Hetakeswhateverhewantsandruns.Jadedanddeterminedtoanswertonoone,Dizlivesalifemarkedbythieveryandabandonment.ThingschangeforDizwhenhefloatsintoasmalltownontheSnakeRiver.ThereheisconfrontedbyanunflappableoldmannamedMartyandfallsforMarty'sguardedgranddaughter,Selah.WhenDizrobsalocaldrug-dealingcrazy,hebecomestheownerofagiantpileofcashandthetargetoftwoviciouskillers.Withmoremoneythanheknowswhattodowith,andcriminalsathisheels,Dizputsthepeoplehe'slearnedtocareaboutindanger,stilltryingtowinSelah.Butsomethingscan'tbestolenorbought.TheRiverThiefisafilmaboutguilt,self-sacrifice,andacceptinglifeasagift.