By MICHAEL GINGOLD
It’s the filmmaker’s latest true-serial-killer thriller–but not his last.
Epic Pictures’ Dread label has announced a release date of April 4 in select theaters for ED KEMPER, which will then be available for VOD rental and purchase April 8. The film, which we last told you about here with exclusive photos, was directed by Chad Ferrin (PIG KILLER, H.P. LOVECRAFT’S THE OLD ONES) from a script he wrote with Stephen Johnston (TED BUNDY, THE HILLSIDE STRANGLER); this will be followed by more Ferrin/Dread collaborations based on real-life murder cases including DOROTHEA, RICHARD RAMIREZ and others. ED KEMPER stars Brandon Kirk, Susan Priver, Brinke Stevens, Lew Temple, Cassandra Gava, Robert Miano, Silvia Spross, Elina Madison and Timothy Muskatell. According to the official synopsis, the movie “follows the horrifying true story of Ed Kemper [Kirk], a cunning and sadistic serial killer shaped by childhood abuse, whose charming facade masked his grotesque obsession with murder, mutilation, and the ultimate act of revenge against the woman who scarred him most–his mother.”
“Having three films releasing in 2025 is a watershed moment for me,” says Ferrin. “And with two of those, ED KEMPER and DOROTHEA, in the capable hands of Epic Pictures, their cinematic future couldn’t be brighter.”
“I originally envisioned ED KEMPER as having a sort of punk rock horror energy,” says Johnston, “and seeing that realized by Chad Ferrin’s sure-handed direction, deft performances from the cast, and the hard work of a great crew, and now learning the movie’s going to have its release through Epic Pictures, has truly been magical. Sure, it’s a disturbing sort of magical, but that’s the best kind.”
“We’re beyond thrilled to unleash ED KEMPER, a bold and unnerving dive into the mind of one of history’s most infamous killers,” says Epic Pictures CEO Patrick Ewald. “True crime and horror are a potent, pulse-pounding combination, and with this film–and our upcoming slate at Dread–we’re crafting stories that are as smart as they are terrifying. Brace yourself for an intense and unforgettable ride into the darkest corners of human nature.”
