River Releases Trailer Ahead of 2027 Horror Debut

Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Atomic Monster have released the first trailer for River, a slasher horror film directed and written by Joshua Giuliano that stars Jane Levy, Jessica Rothe, Max Mattern, and Dane DiLiegro. The film premiered at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival and will reach US theaters on January 15, 2027.

The story follows three estranged siblings who return to their rural hometown after their father's death and travel to a remote river to scatter his ashes. Their boat breaks down during the trip, leaving them stranded without cell service while a masked figure begins hunting them.

FirstShowing reported that the trailer presents River as a new entry in the slasher genre with a survival-focused setting.

"Will drown you in pure terror." was featured by FirstShowing in its coverage of the trailer release.

The film's official synopsis emphasizes the isolated river setting and the danger facing the siblings during their journey.

"The sun is down. The boat is dead. There’s no cell service. And there’s someone standing, staring, from the shore." was included in the official synopsis.

River marks Giuliano's first feature film after his previous short film work. The production team includes Steven Schneider, Nick Antosca, and Alex Hedlund as producers, with several executive producers including Jeffrey Tinnell, Robert Tinnell, Matt Brodlie, Jonathan Kier, Ben Ross, and Jason Blum.

The film received attention after its Toronto International Film Festival premiere in the Midnight Madness section. MovieWeb reported that River held a 94% Tomatometer score from 32 reviews and that its trailer gained more than 700,000 views within seven hours of release.

The trailer coverage also highlighted the film's attempt to deliver an original slasher story outside established horror franchises.

"Fear runs deep." appeared in the promotional material for River, according to FirstShowing's report.

Jessica Rothe leads the cast after appearing in the Happy Death Day films, while Jane Levy is known for horror roles including Don't Breathe and Evil Dead. Max Mattern and Dane DiLiegro complete the main cast.

MovieWeb reported that the trailer keeps much of the plot undisclosed while showing the siblings facing a masked threat near the river.

"The sun is down. The boat is dead. There's no cell service. And there's someone standing, staring, from the shore." was quoted by MovieWeb from the film's official synopsis.

The film's narrative centers on family tensions and survival after the siblings' memorial trip turns into a confrontation with an unknown killer.

"forget everything and just be." was referenced by MovieWeb as a phrase connected to the siblings' memories of their father and the river.

Yahoo reported that River comes from the producers behind Backrooms and Obsession and will be released in theaters on January 15, 2027.