Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe Face Terror in River

The stars of Evil Dead and Happy Death Day reunite with a dangerous new masked killer in Joshua Giuliano’s brutal survival slasher.

Horror favorites Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe are heading back into nightmare territory with RIVER, a new survival slasher from Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Atomic Monster. The film will arrive exclusively in theaters January 15, 2027, bringing a terrifying new masked killer to the big screen.

Written and directed by Joshua Giuliano in his feature-film debut, River follows three estranged siblings whose attempt to honor their late father turns into a desperate fight for survival. What begins as an emotional reunion quickly becomes a nightmare when their boat breaks down in the middle of a remote river, leaving them stranded without cell service or any way to call for help.

As darkness settles over the water, a mysterious figure appears along the shore. With nowhere to escape, the siblings must confront a relentless killer determined to make sure they never leave the river alive.

The film stars Levy, best known for Evil Dead and Don’t Breathe, alongside Rothe, who became a modern horror favorite through the Happy Death Day films. Max Mattern (Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy) joins them as the third sibling, while Dane DiLiegro (Prey) plays the disturbing masked figure hunting them.

River Brings Two Modern Horror Favorites Together

For horror audiences, one of River’s biggest draws is the pairing of Levy and Rothe, two performers who have already faced some of the genre’s most memorable nightmares.

Levy earned widespread recognition among horror fans for her performance as Mia in Fede Álvarez’s 2013 remake of Evil Dead. She later starred in the 2016 thriller Don’t Breathe, which placed her character in another terrifying fight for survival.

Rothe made her mark with Happy Death Day and its sequel, Happy Death Day 2U, playing Tree Gelbman, a college student forced to relive the day of her murder until she uncovers the identity of her killer.

Their involvement gives River an especially interesting connection to modern horror, bringing two established scream queens into a story built around isolation, grief, and survival.

However, the danger comes from a new masked antagonist portrayed by DiLiegro, who previously brought the Feral Predator to life in Prey. His background in creature performance could make the film’s mysterious killer an intimidating presence.

Unlike traditional slashers that unfold in suburban neighborhoods, summer camps or isolated cabins, River places its characters in an environment where even the surrounding water becomes an obstacle to escape.

River Makes Waves Following Toronto Film Festival Premiere

River generated significant attention following its screening in the Midnight Madness program at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The film’s enthusiastic festival reception attracted Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Atomic Monster, which acquired the project following its Toronto screening. The acquisition gave Giuliano’s independent horror film a major theatrical release.

The project marks Giuliano’s feature directorial debut, introducing audiences to his approach to slasher storytelling. The film promises an intense combination of psychological suspense, physical danger, and brutal violence as the siblings struggle to survive their terrifying ordeal.

River also arrives from producers associated with Backrooms, Obsession, the Insidious franchise and Split, connecting the production to several notable horror projects.

Blumhouse Atomic Monster Backs Joshua Giuliano’s Slasher

The film is produced by Steven Schneider through Spooky Pictures, alongside Nick Antosca and Alex Hedlund through Eat The Cat.

Schneider previously served as an executive producer on the Insidious franchise and Split. Antosca and Hedlund are associated with projects including Cape Fear and Verity.

RIVER releases exclusively in theaters January 15, 2027.

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