Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Atomic Monster Buying 'River'

Key Points:

• Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Atomic Monster are set to acquire distribution rights for Joshua Giuliano’s slasher film “River” following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, with the deal rumored to exceed $10 million.
• “River” marks Giuliano’s feature debut, who also wrote and directed the film; his rising reputation is underscored by Blumhouse and Universal’s recent collaboration on his next project, “Occupant.”
• The film centers on three siblings stalked by a masked serial killer while scattering their father’s ashes, and was initially backed by Independent Film Company and Shudder, marking Shudder’s first production.
• Giuliano’s talent has been recognized through his award-winning short films and support from Blumhouse, which has a history of successfully developing emerging horror directors like Curry Barker.
• Industry insiders view “River” as a potential breakout hit similar to Blumhouse’s recent successes “Obsession” and “Backrooms,” signaling Universal’s confidence in Giuliano’s future in horror cinema.