According to that Collider story (which contains a first look image of the cast), the vacationers in question aren’t a husband, wife, and child in the new film. This version of “The River Wild” will have a brother and sister, and their childhood friend going on the trip together. However, once they start traveling, they realize “that their childhood friend is more dangerous than he seems.” Glenn Ross, General Manager and Executive Vice President at Universal 1440 Entertainment said of the film:

“We are excited to announce a thrilling new ‘The River Wild story,’ with fresh characters and a story that brings the universe to new audiences and fans of the original. The production features a talented cast, and we think movie lovers will be excited by director Ben Ketai’s modern take on the popular classic film.”

I like the idea of the “modern take” making the dangerous person in the group someone the characters know. It would be hard to imagine vacationers who just trust a group of strangers they meet in the wilderness in 2022. It’s been a very long time since I saw the original, but I remember thinking it was odd even then that a couple with a young kid in tow would just agree to take some random men — whose friend left because of an “argument” — on their family vacation, no matter what the circumstances were.