River horror film opens Toronto's Midnight Madness

The Toronto International Film Festival's Midnight Madness strand opened with the survival horror film River. Directed by Joshua Giuliano, the movie premiered at the festival and is scheduled for release in cinemas and on the Shudder streaming service in 2027.

River follows three siblings reuniting to scatter their father's ashes on the river he loved. A more bonded younger sister and brother, played by Jane Levy and Max Mattern, are joined by their somewhat estranged older sister, portrayed by Jessica Rothe. Tension escalates even before they board a boat, and a convoluted series of events leaves them stranded mid-river. Their situation worsens with the appearance of a bloodied man in a skin mask on the bank.

A Promising Start Fizzles

Giuliano begins the film with an artful cold open, expanding on an idea from his 2019 short film. This sequence shows the bloody aftermath of an abandoned car while playing the audio of the events that led to it. The Guardian's review calls this opening "incredibly effective and, for the genre, incredibly unusual." However, the critic notes the film fails to maintain this inventiveness, drifting backward rather than moving forward as the plot unfolds.

The review argues that while River did not need to reinvent the slasher genre, it lacks the necessary pacing and energy to build suspense. "It’s just never scary or propulsive enough," the source states. Despite a rare attempt at character development early on, the sibling dynamic lacks the specificity or spark to make audiences genuinely invested in their survival.

Familiar Territory for Its Stars

The film's cast is experienced in horror. Jane Levy endured terror in Don’t Breathe and the 2013 Evil Dead remake. Jessica Rothe was a standout in the Happy Death Day series. The Guardian suggests both actresses "deserve contemporary scream queen status." They are credited with making the most of underwritten roles, adding edge to often bland dialogue. The review notes that hardcore genre fans might enjoy an elongated, gory climax featuring "body-puncturing, eye-popping, head-removing" violence.

An Underwhelming Antagonist

A significant flaw identified in the film is its villain. The antagonist is played by shirtless 6ft 8in former basketball player turned monster actor Dane DiLiegro. While his look is imposing, the review argues the film falters in defining his motivations. "Giuliano opts for the frustrating sour spot in between not enough and too much," the critic writes, adding that the character's backstory fails to be as creepy as intended.

The film concludes with a mid-credits scene that reuses the sound device from the cold open. This scene sets up a potential cinematic universe, a move the review suggests is unnecessary. The critic concludes, "I think he might have already run dry." The review positions River as a far less notable opener for the Midnight Madness strand compared to the previous year's record-breaking horror hit Obsession, which grossed over $513 million worldwide.