DREAD, Epic Pictures‘ horror imprint, is set to release Ed Kemper, a chilling true crime horror thriller, in North America. The film, which is the first installment in a gripping series of biographical true crime stories, opens in select North American cinemas April 4, 2025, with a digital release following April 8.
Directed by Chad Ferrin (Pig Killer, H.P. Lovecraft’s The Old Ones), Ed Kemper explores the harrowing true story of one of history’s most notorious serial killers. The film takes a disturbing deep dive into the psyche of Ed Kemper, a man shaped by childhood abuse, whose charming exterior masked a horrific obsession with murder, mutilation, and a final act of revenge against the woman who scarred him most—his mother. Ferrin also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Stephen Johnston (Ted Bundy, The Hillside Strangler). The film stars Lew Temple (“The Walking Dead”), Cassandra Gava (Conan the Barbarian), Robert Miano (Fast & Furious), Brinke Stevens (House on Haunted Hill), Susan Priver (Night Caller), and Brandon Kirk (Scalper).
The release of Ed Kemper marks the first of a number of true crime thrillers in DREAD’s upcoming slate, with future films on notorious figures such as Dorothea, Richard Ramirez, and more.
Ferrin, reflecting on the film’s release, shared, “Having three films releasing in 2025 is a watershed moment for me. And with two of those, Ed Kemper and Dorothea, in the capable hands of Epic Pictures, their cinematic future couldn’t be brighter.”
Johnston, who originally envisioned Ed Kemper with a “punk rock horror energy,” added, “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.”
Epic Pictures CEO Patrick Ewald expressed his excitement about the project, stating, “We’re beyond thrilled to unleash Ed Kemper, a bold and unnerving dive into the mind of one of history’s most infamous killers. 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.”
With the release of Ed Kemper, DREAD looks set to ignite a dark, unflinching journey into the heart of true crime, marking the dawn of a compelling and unsettling new vision for the banner.
