RATING: B

A Seventh Seal Studios production in association with Meet Me at the Movies Productions and Wildlife Command Center. Directed by Bishop Stevens. Produced by Bishop Stevens, Michael Beran, and B.J. Mezek. Written by A.S. Allen. Cinematography by Lyle Dillie and Johnny Young. Edited by Tim Lynn and Bishop Stevens.

Stars Bishop Stevens, Shannon Brown, Michael Beran, Sean Edmondson, Lonnie Johnson, Mike Ketcher, Wyatt Weed, Samantha Hupp, Nyx Namor, Kayla Perkins, Blaire Winter, and Karen Druley.

Brute 1976’s Bishop Stevens takes on the role of a real-life serial killer in this biopic in which Stevens also directed and wrote as the first of a potential franchise. 

In the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Derrick Todd Lee is a young man who has an obsession with women. When he meets Colleen, a store clerk, he instantly flirts with her and even goes as far as asking her out. A few months have passed and he learns that Colleen had quit her job and left town. Angry, Derrick vows that he will make her pay for leaving him. This becomes the catalyst for what will be something very dangerous.

When Derrick is rebuffed by a woman, he follows them to their home without them knowing. Then, he will kill each victim and assault them at times. As the police can’t seem to figure out who the “Baton Rouge” serial killer is, Derrick continues to hunt down random women, ask them out and when they reject him, he kills them that night. After at least seven homicides, the police finally may have cracked a clue in the case as Derrick is on parole for a past assault on an ex-girlfriend. What will happen when they finally discover Derrick is the killer they are looking for?

After playing Brutus in the awesome Brute 1976 last year, Bishop Stevens may have found his niche to play some pretty crazy killers. However, in the case of this film, he plays a real life serial killer named Derrick Todd Lee (1968-2016). From 1998 to 2003, Lee was responsible for the deaths of seven women in particular. 

Stevens, who also directs the film, does pretty well as Lee. He starts each pre-murder the same way. He attempts to flirt with his potential victim and ask them out. When they are not interested, he gets offended and in a short period of time, he will stalk his prey and then unleash his rage at them. In extreme cases, he will kill and then assault them. As each kill occurs, we see Lee try different tactics but shows the level of unhinged he was thanks in part to Stevens’ performance. 

The police, with the exception of one detective, are somewhat buffoonish as is the mayor, who at one point doesn’t believe that “black people can’t be serial killers”. Even when Lee is busted on one of his hunts, the female officer has reservations but her goofball of a partner believes Lee isn’t the guy they’re looking for, even with the signs literally in his face. It is within time that both the detective and the female officer know who is responsible and go off on the Mayor and the bruised ego police. 

Blood in Baton Rogue Volume 1: Derrick Todd Lee is an interesting look at a series of murders from the hands of an unhinged serial killer. Bishop Stevens was definitely born to play the role and shows his talents as a director as well. There is a second volume coming soon in the form of Sean Gillis as seen in a teaser at the finale of this one. 

The film is currently playing in select film festivals!