WFG RATING: A

Dread presents a Crappy World Films production in association with Dance On Productions and Laurelwood Pictures. Written and directed by Chad Ferrin. Produced by Chad Ferrin, Robert Miano, Michael Conroy, and Michael Muscal. Cinematography by Jeff Billings. Edited by Jahad Ferif.

Starring Susan Priver, Pat McNeely, Robert Miano, Cyril O’Reilly, Ezra Buzzington, Brinke Stevens, Ginger Lynn Allen, Ken May, Brandon Kirk, and Lew Temple.

The story of the “Death House Landlady” comes to life in the second of Chad Ferrin’s “true crime” biopics following the great Ed Kemper earlier this year. 

After suffering abuse at the hands of her previous husbands and serving time for robbery and fraud, Dorothea Puente has turned her home into a boarding house. In 1982, she had been accused of robbing Malcolm McKenzie, a man she met at a bar after drugging him. A few months later, she had killed Ruth Munroe, a local boarder only two weeks after moving in. When she was accused of grand theft, she was sentenced to five years in prison but left after three.

After her release, Dorothea continued a streak of poisoning or murdering her boarders with the intention of stealing their social security checks. As time goes on, Dorothea starts to realize her boarders are demanding their mail, including their checks. Things start to slowly spiral out of control. However, things will soon change when those related to the victims begin to suspect something isn’t right. 

Earlier in 2025, indie filmmaker Chad Ferrin announced he would be releasing a trilogy of “true crime” thrillers based on some of California’s notorious serial killers. He started with the 1970s and the story of Ed Kemper, played by Brandon Kirk in the titular role. Delving into Kemper’s backstory and how it led to his crimes, he has brought to life the story of a 1980s serial killer in Dorothea Puente (1929-2011), who was responsible for nine murders via her boarding house in Sacramento, California. 

Susan Priver, who played Ed Kemper’s domineering and crazed mother in the previous film, takes center stage as Dorothea, who we see enduring abuse in the film’s opening moments when we don’t see her practically on her deathbed in prison. Pat McNeely plays the elder Dorothea in the prison deathbed sequences with Priver showing some of her best work in the flashbacks. Here, we see Priver’s take on Dorothea as someone who not only endured abuse, but did whatever it takes for the almighty dollar, including murder, grand theft, and fraud. 

Some great veterans play some of Dorothea’s victims quite well although in some cases, they do look a little younger than expected. For instance, the real Betty Mae Palmer was 78 years old and yet here, she is played by iconic adult/mainstream star Ginger Lynn Allen, who is in her 60s. However, it is not the point of the film, but the point is rather to see how crazed Puente was in her crimes, thinking she could get away with it. Brinke Stevens plays Dorothea’s first victim in Ruth Munroe, who died in 1982, two weeks after moving into Dorothea’s home. We see how far Puente goes just to get what she wants and ultimately ends with her trial and conviction in 1993, life without parole. 

Chad Ferrin does it again with Dorothea, showcasing a great talent like Susan Priver in the titular role with Pat McNeely’s narration as the elder Puente. It doesn’t go too much into horror territory like Ed Kemper, but one thing is for sure. This was one granny you did not want to mess with. Definitely for fans of true crime thrillers. 

The film will be released in select theaters on October 31 before a Digital release of November 4.