Blumhouse and Universal Land TIFF Slasher ‘River’

Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Atomic Monster are closing a deal for River, the Joshua Giuliano slasher that premiered in the Toronto International Film Festival’s Midnight Madness program. Variety and Deadline reported that the transaction values the distribution rights at more than $10 million, making it the first major sale of this year’s festival.

A festival premiere turns into a bidding contest

River arrived at TIFF backed by Independent Film Company and Shudder. Strong audience response after its world premiere drew interest from several distributors, according to the trade reports. Deadline said Sony had remained in the bidding with an $8 million offer before Universal and Blumhouse ultimately moved ahead with the larger deal.

Variety described the agreement as still being finalized, while Deadline reported the film as sold. Both accounts agree on the buyers, the price range and the project’s path from its original backers to a studio-backed release. That slight difference in wording is important while paperwork closes, but it does not change the central development: the movie has emerged as a valuable acquisition from the festival.

A family reunion becomes a survival story

Giuliano wrote and directed the film as his feature debut. Jane Levy, Jessica Rothe and Max Mattern play estranged siblings who return to their hometown after their father’s death. A trip to scatter his ashes takes them onto a remote river, where a broken boat leaves them stranded and pursued by a faceless killer.

The premise places grief and family conflict inside a contained survival thriller. Levy brings genre recognition from Evil Dead, while Rothe led the horror-comedy Happy Death Day. Their casting gives the project two performers already associated with modern studio horror, but the sale also reflects confidence in Giuliano’s first feature.

The acquisition further strengthens Blumhouse Atomic Monster’s relationship with Giuliano. Deadline noted that the company and its partners had recently joined his next project, Occupant. A public release date for River was not included in either report, so the next concrete step will be the completion of the deal and Universal’s distribution plan.