At this year's Toronto International Film Festival, the Midnight Madness program delivered a genuine surprise: River, a debut feature from writer-director Joshua Giuliano, which quickly became one of the festival's hottest acquisitions. Universal and Blumhouse snapped it up for a reported $10 million plus, signaling that this could be the next big thing in horror. The film stars two beloved scream queens, Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day) and Jane Levy (Evil Dead), alongside newcomer Max Mattern (Cape Fear), and introduces a terrifying new masked killer played by Dane DiLiegro (Prey).
River follows three siblings who are forced to reunite to scatter their late father's ashes. Their already strained relationships are put to the test when their motorboat stalls on a remote river, leaving them stranded. As night falls, they realize a faceless stranger is watching them from the shore, and they must come together to survive his grisly intentions. It's a classic setup with a fresh twist, and Giuliano's direction has been praised for its tension and visual flair.
At the Collider Media Studio, presented by Campari and The Cayman Islands, Perri Nemiroff sat down with Giuliano, Levy, Rothe, and Mattern to discuss the film. They talked about building sibling chemistry on set, the physically demanding sequences, and the design of the killer's mask and movement. Rothe and Levy also shared what drew them to River and their thoughts on the horror genre.
Why Jessica Rothe and Jane Levy Joined River
Rothe, known for her role in Happy Death Day, explained that she looks for projects that both scare and challenge her. "I love making movies, and I love this genre, particularly, because I feel like I learn so much about myself on every single project that I do," she said. "I'm always drawn to try to find projects that both scare me and excite me and challenge me, and this one, this character in particular, is very, very close to a lot of truths about myself." Her character, an eldest daughter who moved away to pursue her dreams, resonates with her own experiences. "She also moved away from home to kind of pursue her dreams — she harbors some guilt about that. I became really interested in the exploration of that childhood that comes roaring back when you come home, like how you instantly turn into a 10-year-old version of yourself when you're back with your family, and it's so infuriating, but also so comforting, but also so confusing, and that's where a lot of the drama between the siblings comes from."
Levy, who starred in the Evil Dead remake, was initially drawn to the project because of Giuliano's vision. "I was excited about Josh. Nick Antosca is a friend of mine, and he had sent me the script. He was very excited about Josh, and he sent me Josh's shorts, and that was the most intriguing thing to me was a new filmmaker," she shared. After seeing the finished film for the first time at TIFF, she was blown away. "I saw the movie last night for my first time, and I was blown away. I was like, 'Oh, wow, we just saw a new voice.' It's a slasher, and in some ways it's kind of straightforward, but I had never seen anything quite like that. It was so beautiful."
The Making of a New Horror Icon
Giuliano and DiLiegro discussed the process of creating the film's masked killer, who is sure to join the ranks of horror's most memorable villains. They focused on developing a unique physicality for the character, making him both menacing and intriguing. The mask design, which was a collaborative effort, adds to the mystery and dread.
For Rothe, the experience was also about the camaraderie on set. She praised her co-stars and director: "I had truly the best playmates in the entire world. I mean, Max is such a delight and a joy, Dane is absolutely terrifying, and Jane, I mean, goddess incarnate and so fierce — I want to be her when I grow up. And Josh just brought so much fearlessness and ingenuity to this process."
Levy also teased her upcoming comedy series, Sunset P.I., opposite Jake Johnson, but her excitement for River was palpable. "It's so exciting to be a part of a new creative expression, especially of a genre that I love so much. It blew me away, and it way exceeded my expectations."
With its TIFF success and the backing of Universal and Blumhouse, River is poised to become a major horror hit. Fans of the genre should keep an eye out for its release, and for those who love a good scare, this is one to watch. For more on the best horror films, check out our list of the most brutal horror films ever made.
