TIFF 2026 Midnight Madness Opens with Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe in 'River'

The Toronto International Film Festival has announced the 2026 Midnight Madness lineup, opening with 'River,' a survival horror film starring Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe. As reported by Bloody Disgusting, the film follows three estranged siblings navigating a harrowing circumstance, with Levy and Rothe adding significant genre cred given their roles in 'Evil Dead' and 'Happy Death Day,' respectively. This marks another notch in the belt for TIFF's Midnight Madness, known for spotlighting edgy genre films that push boundaries. According to IndieWire, the program's curator, Peter Kuplowsky, is steering this year's lineup towards films that capture an 'escalation' theme, following recent trends set by breakouts like 'Obsession.' This continued focus on unconventional horror narratives signals an invigorating direction for the genre in festival circuits.