Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe Join Forces in River, Shudder’s Next Bloody Obsession
If you ever wondered what would happen if the stars of Evil Dead and Happy Death Day shared the same horror movie, the universe has finally answered. Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe are teaming up in River, a new Shudder Original slasher that already sounds like it belongs on every genre fan’s watchlist. The film is now in post production and will first splash into theaters via Independent Film Company before streaming on Shudder. A release date has yet to be announced, but horror fans are already sharpening their oars.
Jane Levy is no stranger to the dark side. Her work in Fede Álvarez’s Evil Dead remake turned her into a modern final girl icon, crawling through carnage and chainsaws like it was a full body sport. She then traded demons for burglars in Don’t Breathe, where she once again proved she can outthink, outrun, and out-scream just about anyone in the genre. She has a gift for playing characters who refuse to die quietly, and that alone makes her presence in River exciting.
Jessica Rothe brings her own flavor of chaos to the mix. Best known for reliving her birthday over and over again in Happy Death Day and its sequel, she made time loops and masked killers feel like dark comedy therapy sessions. Rothe’s combination of charm, sarcasm, and survival instincts turned a high-concept slasher into a surprise fan favorite. Pairing her with Levy feels like horror’s version of a dream team — two performers who actually make you root for the living instead of the killer.
Directed by newcomer Joshua Giuliano, River begins as a family drama that quickly drifts into nightmare territory. Three estranged siblings reunite in their hometown after their father’s death to scatter his ashes at his favorite river spot. Once their boat breaks down, things go from awkward to apocalyptic. Stranded miles from help, no cell signal, and something faceless watching from the trees — it’s the kind of setup that makes you question every camping trip you have ever agreed to.
Giuliano told Variety that the project took six years to come together and called it the most rewarding experience of his life. He described working with Shudder as a dream partnership and said he is thrilled for audiences to finally see what he and his crew have created. Considering Shudder’s track record with original horror, River seems destined to make waves when it finally arrives.
Also along for the nightmare are Dane DiLiegro, the towering presence from Prey, and Max Mattern from Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy. Between DiLiegro’s sheer physicality and the emotional core provided by Levy and Rothe, the film promises equal parts fear and heartache — a combination that often separates a good slasher from a great one.
The producing lineup is stacked with genre veterans. Steven Schneider of Spooky Pictures joins Nick Antosca and Alex Hedlund from Eat the Cat, while executive producers Jeffrey and Robert Tinnell of Allegheny Image Factory, and Matt Brodlie and Jonathan Kier of Upgrade round out the team. These are names that tend to appear on projects that make horror fans pay attention.
Shudder’s vice president of development and production, Nicholas Lazo, called Giuliano a striking new voice in horror and praised his script as both beautiful and horrifying. Translation: get ready for a film that might make you tear up right before it makes you jump out of your seat.
With two of horror’s most talented leading ladies steering the boat, River has all the makings of a standout in modern slasher cinema. It promises isolation, paranoia, family tension, and the ever-reliable rule that if you cannot see the killer, it probably already sees you. So maybe hold off on that river trip — at least until this one hits Shudder.
