Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe Face a Masked Killer in the Brutal First Trailer for ‘River’

Few modern horror stars have earned their scream queen status quite like Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe. Levy made her mark in ‘Evil Dead’, while Rothe became a fan favorite with the ‘Happy Death Day’ films, and horror fans have long wanted to see the 2 face off against a killer together.

That wish is finally coming true with ‘River’, the feature debut from writer-director Joshua Giuliano. The slasher premiered in the Toronto International Film Festival’s Midnight Madness program on September 10 and quickly became one of the breakout genre hits of the festival.

Now, Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Atomic Monster have released the first official trailer for ‘River’, and it looks like a nerve-shredding ride. The film follows 3 estranged siblings who reunite to scatter their late father’s ashes along a remote river, only to become stranded when their boat breaks down.

The somber family trip quickly turns into a fight for survival as a masked killer begins hunting them. The trailer opens with calm, sweeping shots of the river before descending into chaos and terror.

First trailer for ‘RIVER’, a new slasher film starring Jessica Rothe & Jane Levy. The film follows 3 estranged siblings who find themselves stranded on a broken-down boat & tormented by a serial killer. In theaters on January 15. https://t.co/zQlUlVsbP3

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 12, 2026

‘River’ is set to hit theaters on January 15, 2027, during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. The film is rated R for strong bloody violence, some grisly images, and language.

Levy and Rothe are joined by Max Mattern of ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’, who plays the third sibling. Dane DiLiegro, who played the Feral Predator in ‘Prey’, takes on the imposing role of the killer.

The film was shot in Wadestown, West Virginia, giving it a remote, rural atmosphere. That isolated setting appears to play a huge role in heightening the tension throughout the trailer.

‘River’ has been a long time coming. The project was first announced in 2019, with Giuliano set to write and direct and Nick Antosca producing through his Eat the Cat banner. “‘River’ was six years in the making, a labor of love that culminated in the most rewarding experience of my life,” Giuliano said in a statement to Variety when the cast was announced.

First poster for ‘RIVER’, a new slasher film starring Jessica Rothe & Jane Levy. The film follows 3 estranged siblings who find themselves stranded on a broken-down boat & tormented by a serial killer. https://t.co/mSmUirLn0Z

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 12, 2026

The film was originally produced as a Shudder Original. Following its strong TIFF reception, Universal and Blumhouse Atomic Monster acquired it in a deal reportedly worth more than $10 million. Early reviews have been glowing. Bloody Disgusting praised the film for embracing classic slasher conventions to build tension at a brisk and steady pace.

JoBlo’s review gave the movie a 7 out of 10, calling it a brutal and well-made survival slasher. The critic highlighted Giuliano’s direction, the gore, and the performances from Levy, Rothe, and Mattern. Other critics featured in the trailer described it as a savage and visceral horror experience. Many have compared its festival buzz to other recent indie horror breakouts.

Steven Schneider, known for ‘Insidious’ and ‘Split’, produces alongside Antosca and Alex Hedlund. Jason Blum serves as an executive producer through Blumhouse Atomic Monster.

The film features cinematography by Nick Matthews, editing by Thom Newell and music by the Mondo Boys. Together, they appear to have crafted a slick, old-school slasher with plenty of bite.

With 2 beloved scream queens, a terrifying killer, and strong festival reviews, ‘River’ is shaping up to be one of early 2027’s most exciting horror releases. The trailer is already generating plenty of buzz online. Fans won’t have long to wait to see whether the film lives up to the hype. When it arrives in January, it could become the next big word-of-mouth horror hit.

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