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‘River’ Trailer Review: Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe Face a Masked Killer

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Photo: Universal Pictures

Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe find themselves trapped in a fight for survival in River, a new horror film from writer-director Joshua Giuliano. The trailer introduces three estranged siblings whose attempt to scatter their father’s ashes turns dangerous when a masked killer appears along a remote river.

The siblings return to their rural hometown following their father’s death. Lucy (Levy), her older sister Carla (Rothe) and their brother Drew (Max Mattern) take a boat to a river they once visited with their father. Their family tensions surface during the trip, but the situation becomes far more dangerous when the boat breaks down, leaving them stranded without cell service.

Photo: Universal Pictures

The trailer shows a masked figure watching the siblings from the riverbank. When Carla attempts to reach shore, the stranger enters the water and pursues her. The encounter makes clear that the river offers no easy escape, and the siblings soon find themselves hunted by a threat they do not understand.

Dane DiLiegro plays the killer, whose concealed face and sudden movements give the trailer its central source of danger. The footage withholds much of the figure’s background, leaving questions about his identity and motives unanswered. It also hints at a wider threat in the surrounding wilderness, suggesting the siblings may be dealing with more than an isolated attacker.

Photo: Universal Pictures

The film’s setting gives the survival story a clear obstacle. With the boat out of commission and help beyond reach, the siblings must decide how to escape while dealing with their strained relationships. Their father’s death has brought them together, but it has not resolved the disagreements that have kept them apart. Those tensions could complicate their efforts to work together when cooperation becomes essential.

Levy brings previous horror experience from Evil Dead and Don’t Breathe, while Rothe is known for the Happy Death Day films. Their casting gives the film two leads familiar with the demands of the genre. Mattern completes the central trio as Drew, whose relationship with his sisters forms part of the family conflict.

Photo: Universal Pictures

Giuliano wrote and directed River, marking his feature directorial debut. The film premiered in the Midnight Madness section of the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2026, where it attracted critical attention for its visual style and approach to horror. Reviews have been positive overall, although some critics have raised concerns about the dialogue and character development. The film’s reported 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes reflects a strong early critical response, but the individual reviews show that not every aspect has received the same praise.

Photo: Universal Pictures

The trailer’s most effective element is the siblings’ limited choice of escape routes. The river initially serves as the destination for their farewell to their father, then becomes the place where they must fight to stay alive. Whether the film can sustain that tension across its full runtime will become clearer when audiences see how Giuliano develops the story beyond the initial pursuit.

River is scheduled to open in U.S. theaters on January 15, 2027.

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Sofía Vergara Seemingly Responds to Joe Manganiello’s Memoir Claims

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Photo: Getty Images

Sofía Vergara looks to have responded to the claims her ex-husband, Joe Manganiello, made about their marriage in his upcoming memoir, Bloodlines. The Modern Family actress recently shared a series of Instagram posts about narcissistic behaviour and the importance of being able to laugh at oneself. 

According to reports, Vergara reposted an Instagram Story originally shared by her son, Manolo Gonzalez Vergara. The post compared the characteristics of a good man with those of a narcissistic man. Her social media activity came days before Manganiello’s memoir is scheduled for release on October 13.

Neither post explicitly named Manganiello. Vergara has also not publicly confirmed that the messages were directed at her former husband. However, their timing has drawn attention because the actor’s book contains new details about the problems he says affected their marriage before their separation in 2023.

Manolo, 35, shared the original post on October 8. It shows behaviours described as narcissistic, including gaslighting, shifting blame and acting in a self-serving way.

Photo: Getty Images

He added a caption warning that supporting a narcissistic person might not prevent that person from becoming resentful or portraying the supporter as the villain.

“Remember kids, when dealing with a narcissist, it doesn’t matter how much you do for them, because they will resent you for it, and nothing will ever be enough and they’ll always somehow try to paint you as the bad guy.” Manolo wrote.

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Vergara reposted her son’s message to her Instagram Stories. Her decision to share it attracted attention because it came shortly after Manganiello’s account of their marriage began circulating in entertainment news reports.

Photo: Getty Images

The actress also shared another post about the ability to laugh at oneself. The message, originally shared by former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, described self-deprecating humour as a sign of intelligence and suggested that people who cannot laugh at themselves take life too seriously. Vergara added clapping emojis to the post.

The messages prompted speculation that she was indirectly responding to Manganiello’s allegations. However, neither post specifically identified him. 

Manganiello’s Bloodlines, scheduled for release on October 13, 2026, explores his personal history, health struggles and the breakdown of his marriage. 

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‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Sequel Series Confirmed With Original Cast Returning

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HBO has ordered a television series based on Crazy Rich Asians, bringing back several actors from the 2018 romantic comedy. The eight-episode series is expected to begin production in 2027, with Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Ronny Chieng and Michelle Yeoh returning to the franchise.

Wu will reprise her role as Rachel Chu, the New York economics professor who discovers that her boyfriend, Nick Young, belongs to one of Singapore’s wealthiest families. Golding will return as Nick, Chieng as his cousin Eddie Cheng, and Yeoh as Eleanor Young, Nick’s mother.

Photo: Milla Cochran/startraksphoto.com

The series will continue the story following the events of the original film, which ended with Nick proposing to Rachel after Eleanor’s objections to their relationship. The television adaptation will give the creative team eight episodes to develop the characters and their relationships.

Adele Lim, who co-wrote the 2018 film, will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Author Kevin Kwan and director Jon M. Chu will also return as executive producers, alongside Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, who produced the original movie.

Photo: Getty

The announcement follows years of delays surrounding plans for a second Crazy Rich Asians film. Moving the story to television creates an opportunity to explore more of Kwan’s characters across multiple episodes, although specific plot details for the new series have not yet been announced.

Released in 2018, Crazy Rich Asians grossed approximately $239 million worldwide. The film follows Rachel as she travels to Singapore with Nick and encounters his wealthy family, including Eleanor, who questions whether Rachel is the right partner for her son.

Photo: Milla Cochran/startraksphoto.com

The movie also became notable for placing an Asian-led cast at the center of a major Hollywood romantic comedy, drawing attention to representation in mainstream studio filmmaking.

HBO has not announced a premiere date or confirmed additional casting beyond the returning actors. Gemma Chan, who played Astrid Young, and Harry Shum Jr., who appeared as Charlie Wu, have not been confirmed for the series.

With production expected to begin in 2027, further details about the cast and storyline are still to come.

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Scarlett Johansson Stars in Chilling First Teaser for The Exorcist: Martyrs

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Photo: Universal Pictures and Blumhouse

Scarlett Johansson is stepping into one of horror’s best franchises with The Exorcist: Martyrs. The 15-second preview introduces Johansson as NYPD homicide detective Julie Miller and hints at a case that goes beyond the natural.

The film is written and directed by Mike Flanagan, the filmmaker behind The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass. Flanagan has taken a different route with this chapter of the franchise. Martyrs is a story on its own and not a continuation of 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer.

Johansson plays Julie Miller, a homicide detective and single mother raising her 12-year old son, Max, played by Jacobi Jupe. Her job affects her family life, with her mother, Mary, played by Diane Lane, helping care for Max.

Photo: Universal Pictures and Blumhouse

The case at the crux of the story begins with a serial killer known as Father Sunday, played by John Leguizamo. Julie apprehends him and is present when he is executed. However, his death does not end the killings. New murders emerge, and they appear to be connected to the brutal martyrdom of Catholic saints.

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Flanagan said the movie combines the investigation style of films such as Se7en and The Silence of the Lambs with the supernatural horror of The Exorcist. The investigation gradually forces Julie to confront the possibility that the evil behind the murders cannot be explained through ordinary means.

The teaser keeps much of that story hidden, but its imagery establishes the film’s dark atmosphere. Johansson’s character is shown dealing with an increasingly disturbing situation, while the presence of Father Sunday suggests his influence remains after his execution. The preview also hints at the threat surrounding Julie’s investigation. 

Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Father William, a former prison chaplain who presided over Father Sunday’s execution. According to Flanagan, the experience leaves Father William struggling with his faith. Laurence Fishburne also appears as another priest who becomes involved when the supernatural threat begins reaching Julie’s family.

Photo: Universal Pictures and Blumhouse

Sasha Calle plays fellow NYPD detective Gina Restrepo, who works alongside Julie as the investigation develops. The cast also includes Rahul Kohli, Hamish Linklater, Gil Bellows, Carl Lumbly, Robert Longstreet, Matt Biedel, Samantha Sloyan, Kate Siegel, John Gallagher Jr., Benjamin Pajak and Carla Gugino.

Flanagan  made it clear that he does not want Martyrs to simply recreate William Friedkin’s 1973 classic. He has cited William Peter Blatty’s Legion, the novel behind The Exorcist III, as an influence on the film.

The first full trailer of The Exorcist: Martyrs is scheduled to arrive on October 9. The film will be released in U.S. cinemas on March 12, 2027.

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