By MICHAEL GINGOLD

It’s the debut feature by award-winning short filmmaker Joshua Giuliano.

Independent Film Company and Shudder have announced their acquisition of RIVER, a survival-horror movie that’s currently in postproduction. Written and directed by Giuliano, the Shudder Original Production stars Jane Levy (DON’T BREATHE, EVIL DEAD), Jessica Rothe (the HAPPY DEATH DAY films), Dane DiLiegro (PREY) and Max Mattern, and will hit theaters next year from Independent Film Company. The synopsis: “When three estranged siblings reunite in their hometown after the death of their father, they set out to scatter his ashes at his favorite spot on a remote river. But when their boat breaks down, the trip devolves into a waking nightmare. Stranded miles from help with no cell service, they soon realize they’re being stalked by a faceless killer who has emerged from the woods. To survive the night, the siblings must put their long-standing grudges aside and fight together against a ruthless, almost mythic terror.”

“RIVER was six years in the making, a labor of love that culminated in the most rewarding experience of my life,” says Giuliano, who first sold the RIVER spec script to production outfit Tango Entertainment in 2019. “Working with Shudder has been a thrilling collaboration and knowing RIVER will have a theatrical release is a dream come true. I look forward to sharing our terrifying creation with audiences.”