Universal and Blumhouse Just Won a Bidding War Over 'River'

Toronto just handed horror its first big deal of the fall festival circuit. "River," the survival slasher starring Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe, walked into its TIFF premiere as a modest genre entry and walked out with five studios fighting over it.

From Quiet Premiere to Feeding Frenzy

"River" debuted in TIFF's Midnight Madness section on September 10, 2026, with a follow-up screening at Fantastic Fest on September 19. It's the directorial debut of Joshua Giuliano, who also wrote the script, and it stars Levy ("Evil Dead," "Don't Breathe") and Rothe ("Happy Death Day") as estranged siblings who reunite with their younger brother, played by Max Mattern, to scatter their late father's ashes along a remote river. When their boat breaks down, they find themselves stranded and hunted by a faceless killer, played by Dane DiLiegro.

The reception at TIFF was strong enough — the film currently sits at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes from early critics — that Independent Film Company and Shudder, who originally backed the project, decided to shop distribution rights rather than release it themselves. What followed was a full-blown bidding war: A24, Focus Features, Paramount, and Netflix all circled the film, and Sony Pictures reportedly placed an $8 million offer before dropping out. Universal Pictures and Blumhouse's Atomic Monster label ultimately closed the deal for more than $10 million, making "River" one of the first major genre acquisitions of the 2026 festival season.

Why Studios Are Fighting Over a Slasher

Survival horror set against a single, unforgiving location has been a reliable engine for breakout hits, and "River" leans hard into that pressure-cooker setup — trapped characters, a body of water they can't escape, and a killer who never shows his face. Early reviews have singled out Levy and Rothe's performances as the film's anchor, with critics noting the physical toll of shooting extended sequences in and around water for a story that never lets its characters dry off, literally or figuratively.

Blumhouse's involvement adds another layer of interest. The studio has built its reputation on turning modestly budgeted horror into box office outperformers, and pairing that model with Universal's theatrical muscle suggests "River" is being positioned as a genuine wide release rather than a niche streaming drop. A distribution date hasn't been set yet, but given the size of the acquisition, expect Universal to move quickly once the fall festival dust settles.

What's Next

With Fantastic Fest screenings underway and a major studio now steering the ship, "River" is shaping up to be one of the horror titles to watch heading into 2027. We'll keep tracking release date news as Universal locks in a release window.

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