Exclusive: Focus Features Closing In on ‘River,’ the Slasher Starring Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe

EXCLUSIVE: River could be heading to theaters with Focus Features.

Dread Central is hearing that Focus Features is closing in on a deal for theatrical distribution of Joshua Giuliano’s brutal slasher, which celebrated its world premiere as the opening-night selection of TIFF’s Midnight Madness program.

We’re also hearing about some other heated acquisition activity in Toronto, including studio interest in Michelle Yeoh’s (Everything Everywhere All at Once) action thriller Surgeon. But for horror fans, River is the one to watch.

The film pairs two of our favorite modern final girls, Jane Levy (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe) and Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day), as estranged sisters who reunite with their younger brother, played by Max Mattern (Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy), to scatter their father’s ashes along a remote river.

When their boat breaks down, the siblings find themselves stranded miles from help and stalked by a faceless killer, played by Dane DiLiegro (Prey).

What makes the potential deal particularly interesting is that River already had a distribution plan. In its original November 2025 announcement, Shudder identified the film as a Shudder Original Production, with Independent Film Company handling its theatrical release.

Dread Central attended the TIFF premiere, where Matt Konopka gave the film a positive 3.5-star review, comparing its relentless brutality to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and the French Extremity movement.