Universal and Blumhouse Atomic Monster in talks to acquire Joshua Giuliano’s slasher ‘River’

Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Atomic Monster are reported to be in talks to acquire distribution rights to Joshua Giuliano’s slasher film “River,” with deal value potentially exceeding $10 million, according to IndieWire and Variety. The transaction is described as one of the first major deals emerging from the Toronto International Film Festival.

Both outlets frame the agreement as a significant TIFF sales event, with the reported figure positioning it among the festival’s largest purchases. Variety adds that “River” was originally backed by Independent Film Company and Shudder. The reports indicate that those backers are now moving toward closing a distribution-rights deal involving Universal and Blumhouse Atomic Monster, though the specific final terms and release plans are not detailed in the provided coverage.

Overall, the outlets agree on the film’s title, the parties involved, the timing around TIFF, and the high estimated price, while differing mainly in the emphasis on the potential scale of the payment.