PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Epic Pictures’ horror label DREAD returns with Dorothea, a true-crime shocker from writer-director Chad Ferrin (Pig Killer, Ed Kemper). The film dives into the terrifying real-life story of Dorothea Puente, the Sacramento grandmother who murdered her elderly tenants and buried them in her garden. Following a raved-about world premiere at the Valley Film Festival, Dorothea began a limited theatrical run October 31 and is on VOD now!
The film marks the second entry in DREAD’s new slate of biographical horror, following Ed Kemper and paving the way for Ferrin’s upcoming take on Richard Ramirez, the Night Stalker. Starring Susan Priver, Lew Temple, and Brinke Stevens, Dorothea promises a chilling look at evil hiding in plain sight.
We asked Ferrin about bringing Puente’s story to life, the psychology of true horror, and how DREAD is redefining real-life terror on screen.
Interview of Dorothea Director Chad Ferrin
PopHorror: What drew you to Dorothea Puente’s story in particular — was it her psychology, her crimes, or the contradiction between her grandmotherly image and what she did?
Chad Ferrin: After Pig Killer and Ed Kemper, I wanted to mix it up a bit, so I started researching female killers and came across Dorothea. Her story was captivating to say the least, like a real life Robert Aldrich film.
PopHorror: Dorothea blends true crime and horror — two genres that can easily sensationalize. How did you strike a balance between authenticity and shock value?
Chad Ferrin: When writing true crime, I try to get into the head of both the killer and their victims to tell the story as real as possible, including the violence, terror and aftermath. With Dorothea, we took a Goodfellas approach with voiceover, breaking the 4th wall etc. that I feel really sets it apart.
‘Dorothea‘ and the Killer Inside of Us
PopHorror: You’ve directed Ed Kemper and now Dorothea. What fascinates you about bringing real-life killers to the screen, and do you try at all to avoid glamorizing them (to borrow a commonly used word)?
Chad Ferrin: Deep down we all have a killer inside of us and also the fear of being killed. I think that’s a big part of why true crime is so popular and relatable to everyone. The other day, someone cut me off in traffic, and for a moment I wanted to kill them. Years ago, I gave someone the finger and they pulled up alongside me and pointed a .357 at my head and the fear of death struck me like a bolt lightning. Moments of fear and rage are relatable to everyone. Showing Ed and Dorothea in prison zaps any possible glamor from their stories.
PopHorror: The film has themes of trauma and survival shaping cruelty. How much of this film explores the “why” behind Dorothea’s actions versus simply the “what?”
Chad Ferrin: The “why” and “what” are equally covered with flashbacks and Dorothea’s narration.
Caught Off Guard
PopHorror: You mentioned the Valley Film Festival audience had an incredible response. What reactions or moments stood out to you most during that premiere?
Chad Ferrin: The amount of laughter and the audience rooting for Dorothea to succeed caught me off guard. It hit me that we had created a geriatric femme fatale.
PopHorror:Susan Priver’s performance as Dorothea is pivotal. What was your collaboration like, and how did she approach embodying someone so outwardly kind yet inwardly monstrous?
Chad Ferrin: After working with Susan on Ed Kemper, I knew she was the one and only actor to play Dorothea. And like any good actor, she found things in her own character that were relatable to Dorothea and used that to bring the performance to life. She really nailed this one.
Digging Graves and Removing Doors
PopHorror: The film’s set design and tone capture a specific era. What choices did you make to immerse viewers in the late 1980s Sacramento atmosphere where these crimes took place?
Chad Ferrin: Luckily, the boarding house location had many of the period props and set dressing needed to capture the era. The homeowners, Reid and Angie were simply fantastic. They let us dig graves, remove doors, I mean, they really rolled out the red carpet for us. I wish every location were that accommodating.
PopHorror: Dorothea is part of Dread’s new biographical horror slate. How does this series differ from traditional true-crime films, and what’s your creative freedom like working with Dread?
Chad Ferrin: They’re unflinching, raw and disturbing as hell. There is no sugar coating. In addition to the creative freedom, Dread has been amazing in every aspect. Bar none, the best distributor that I have ever worked with.
PopHorror: You’re reuniting with Dread for Richard Ramirez. What lessons or stylistic takeaways from Dorothea will you bring into that next project?
Chad Ferrin: I still have nightmares from researching and writing the script of Devil’s Disciple: The Night Stalker. It will be the most horrifying true-crime film ever made.
PopHorror: Horror often reflects society’s fears. What do you think Dorothea says about trust, appearances, and how we perceive danger in everyday life?
Chad Ferrin: Never judge a book by its cover.
