Thescreescore – A new cinematic offering from horror powerhouses Blumhouse and Shudder, titled River, has made a formidable splash, garnering an impressive critical reception following its world premiere. This slasher entry, featuring a formidable lineup of genre veterans often hailed as "scream queens," has debuted to a stellar 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling a significant triumph for its creators and cast.
Helmed by filmmaker Joshua Giuliano, who also penned the script, River assembles a compelling ensemble including Jane Levy, celebrated for her visceral role in Fede Álvarez’s Evil Dead (2013), and Jessica Rothe, known for her charismatic performances in the Happy Death Day franchise. They are joined by Max Mattern and Dane DiLiegro, rounding out a cast poised to deliver intense thrills.
The narrative plunges into the fraught reunion of three estranged siblings, drawn together by the somber task of scattering their late father’s ashes at a secluded river locale. Their journey quickly devolves into a nightmare when their vessel fails, severing all contact with the outside world. Stranded and isolated, they soon realize a menacing, unidentified assailant lurks in the surrounding wilderness, turning their solemn pilgrimage into a desperate fight for survival. This premise skillfully evokes the chilling atmosphere of seminal slasher films such as Friday the 13th and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, promising a potent blend of suspense and visceral horror.
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Early critical reception, as aggregated by Rotten Tomatoes, positions River with a remarkable 88% approval rating from its initial 16 reviews. While an audience score is still pending, the consensus largely commends Giuliano’s fresh take on the slasher archetype. Notably, this achievement places River among the top three highest-rated films in the careers of both Levy and Rothe, underscoring its impact.
This robust critical endorsement follows its much-anticipated world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Even our own analysis at thescreescore.com, while acknowledging a somewhat deliberate initial pace and adherence to established slasher conventions, lauded the palpable tension ignited once DiLiegro’s enigmatic killer commences his pursuit. River also marks Giuliano’s feature directorial debut, building on the promise shown in his 2018 short film, In Sound, We Live Forever.
Beyond its critical acclaim, River has also made significant waves in the industry. Reports from Deadline confirm that Universal Pictures and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster successfully secured the slasher’s distribution rights from IFC and Shudder post-TIFF, in a deal reportedly exceeding $10 million. This high-stakes acquisition further solidifies the film’s status as a must-watch horror event.
The film strategically reunites formidable talents within the slasher framework. Levy’s genre credentials include her memorable turn as Mia Allen in Evil Dead and her leading role in the intense home-invasion thriller Don’t Breathe. Rothe, conversely, cemented her status with audiences as the perpetually reliving protagonist Tree Gelbman in Happy Death Day and its 2019 follow-up, Happy Death Day 2U. In River, both actors are thrust back into familiar yet terrifying territory, cast as siblings who must forge an uneasy alliance against an unseen terror.
Giuliano’s burgeoning career shows no signs of slowing, with Occupant, another horror project, already in development. This upcoming feature is a collaborative effort involving Focus Features, Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, Divide/Conquer, and Spooky Pictures. The impressive critical debut of River and its high-profile acquisition post-festival have firmly established Giuliano as a director to watch, building considerable anticipation for its broader release. While River made its festival debut on September 10, 2026, a wider theatrical release date is yet to be announced.
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