WFG RATING: A

Dread presents a Crappy World Films/Dance On Productions/Laurelwood Pictures film. Directed by Chad Ferrin. Produced by Jeff Olan, Chad Ferrin, Silawn Lewis, and Michael Conroy. Written by Chad Ferrin and Stephen Johnston. Cinematography by Jeff Billings. Edited by Jahad Ferif.

Stars Brandon Kirk, Susan Priver, Brinke Stevens, Cassandra Gava, Jerry Irons, Joe Castro, and Lew Temple. 

From the director of the biopic Pig Killer comes this look at one of the most notorious serial killers in the early 1970s.

On August 27, 1964, fifteen-year-old Ed Kemper III murdered his grandparents and was confined to a mental institution. After five years, he is released and moves back in with his mother Clarnell, who for years, have treated him like dirt. With an absentee father, young Ed had endured years of abuse from his mother and despite his attempts to reconcile with her, she always finds a way to torment him.  It gets to where the two will insult each other as a means for Ed to let out his anger.

However, things change in 1971 when he picks up two young female hitchhikers. He takes them to a secluded spot where he kills them and proceeds to dismember them and take photos of his “art”. This soon leads into a violent killing spree in nearby towns where he proceeds to pick up random young females and does the same thing. When his mother begins to suspect something isn’t right with her son, this leads to a shocking revelation and for Ed Kemper, it will make him a name one will never forget. 

You have to hand it to Chad Ferrin. A veteran of the horror genre, he delved into true crime with Pig Killer, which focused on the true story of one of Canada’s most prolific serial killers, Robert “Willy” Pickton. Between that film and his other prolific films, it comes as no surprise that Ferrin would delve into more true crime films but whereas many of these films will focus more on the crimes, victims, and law enforcement, Ferrin has one intent with his films. He wants the viewer to go into the mindset of the killer. What makes them tick? Why do they resort to killing?

Brandon Kirk is great as Ed Kemper III (who is still alive to this day), who is responsible for the murders of seven women from May 1972 to April 1973. We catch glimpses of Kemper’s early life as a teenager, enduring the wrath of his mother, played by a very excellent Susan Priver. In what could be somewhat of a catalyst, we see Ed locked up in the basement where he encounters the Devil (played by the film’s VFX coordinator, Joe Castro). At first, when we see the complicated relationship between mother and son, there are times where we see Ed finally stand up to his mother, who looks to be a lonely alcoholic who may or may not be in a relationship with best friend Salley, played by the iconic Brinke Stevens. 

The killings don’t begin until thirty minutes in and that’s a good thing because it allows the viewer to get into the mindset of Kemper and why he did what he did. Some of the things he did after killing them, whether from stabbing or shooting them in the dead, is where it gets very disturbing. He dismembers them and takes Polaroids of his “art” and with one particular victim, he does the unthinkable. Just use your imagination. 

Ed Kemper is a fantastic biopic that delves into the mind of the titular killer thanks to a phenomenal performance by Brandon Kirk with the help of Susan Priver as his overpowering mother. If you like true crime, this is a must watch for your collection.

The film will be released in select theaters on April 4 followed by a VOD/Digital release on April 8.