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Slasher film 'River' set for 15 January 2027 release by Universal and Blumhouse Atomic Monster

Universal and Blumhouse Atomic Monster will release the horror film 'River' in US theatres on Friday, 15 January 2027, after buying it out of the Toronto International Film Festival for about $10 million.

3 outlets · 1L · 2C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: IndieWire
Image: Deadline
Image: Screen Rant

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The story, neutrally told

Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Atomic Monster will release the horror film "River" in theatres on Friday, 15 January 2027. The companies acquired the film out of the Toronto International Film Festival's Midnight Madness section. Deadline puts the price at $10 million, and IndieWire says the deal was worth more than $10 million. IndieWire reports that the film was produced by Independent Film Company and Shudder, was Shudder's first original production, and had been scheduled for release on Shudder's streaming service. It says those plans changed when Blumhouse and Universal swept in after the premiere. It also says they beat out competitors including Sony Pictures and Netflix.

The film follows three estranged siblings who reunite in their hometown after their father's death. They set out to scatter his ashes, and the trip turns into a nightmare. IndieWire says they are stalked by a killer. Joshua Giuliano wrote and directed it. The cast includes Jane Levy, Jessica Rothe, Max Mattern and Dane DiLiegro. Both outlets report a 94% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The date is the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Deadline says Universal already had it on hold for a Blumhouse title. The film will open against Paramount's "Children of Blood and Bone" and "The Beekeeper 2". Deadline credits "The Beekeeper 2" to Amazon MGM Studios/Miramax and adds Angel Studios' "Fing!" to the list.

IndieWire says the deal made strategic sense, because Giuliano is already working with the companies. Blumhouse Atomic Monster and Focus Features announced shortly before the premiere that they are making his next film, "Occupant". IFC Entertainment Group head Scott Shooman said the festival response was "enormously gratifying".

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left1 outlet

Framing
IndieWire leads on the bidding war and the strategic logic of the deal, including the Shudder plans that changed.
Emphasis
Deal background, competing bidders, Blumhouse's strong year.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the MLK weekend or that Universal already held the date.
Charged language
“stunned observers”“bidding war”
For example
“Though the pact stunned observers, it made strategic sense.” — IndieWire

Centre2 outlets

Framing
Deadline reports the date as a trade scheduling item, with a list of competing releases.
Emphasis
Date, holiday weekend, competing openers, plot and cast.
Leaves out or plays down
Leaves out the bidding war, Shudder's original plans and the Giuliano/Occupant link.
For example
“Uni already had this MLK weekend date on hold for a Blumhouse title.” — Deadline

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.