A First Look at Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe in the Survival Horror ‘River’

Scream queen Jane Levy is returning to the horror genre in River. The upcoming survival slasher marks writer-director Joshua Giuliano’s feature directorial debut.

Pitting a trio of estranged siblings against a relentless masked killer deep in the wilderness, the film also stars Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day) and Max Mattern (Desert Road).

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this weekend to high praise.

Stranded in the Wilderness

The plot follows three siblings who reunite in their hometown after their father’s death. They return to scatter his ashes at his favorite spot on a remote river. When their boat breaks down and leaves them stranded miles from civilization with no cell service, the trip devolves into a nightmare. Trapped in the wild, the siblings must set aside long-standing family grudges to survive against a faceless, ruthless killer emerging from the woods.

Actor and creature performer Dane DiLiegro portrays the film’s imposing, faceless killer, bringing a formidable physical presence to the woods. Balancing traditional slasher beats with modern subversions, River uses its isolated setting to deliver a lean, fast-paced survival story.

TIFF Reactions

River was a hit at its premiere, with audiences at the Midnight showing. The audience reportedly cheered at the high-octane action and practical gore. Audience members found the performances emotionally resonant.

Roger Ebert praised director Joshua Giuliano’s clever spatial framing and sound design. By trapping the characters on open water in broad daylight, the film turns a wide-open natural environment into a surprisingly claustrophobic arena.

“River” is relentless, a slasher movie that somehow turns the open space of a river into someplace claustrophobic.” Ebert stated.

Premiere and Distribution Details

We’ll let you know when the release date is set. In the meantime, check out the first look at River below.

.