The horror landscape is about to get a whole lot weirder. Just when you thought the "twisted IP" trend had reached its peak with blood-soaked bears and murderous mariners, producer Jeff Miller is taking a sharp turn into the world of true crime parody. As first reported by Bloody Disgusting, the trailer for Ted Bunny has officially hopped onto the scene, marking the first entry in what is being dubbed the "Twisted Serial Killer Universe."
A New Breed of Slasher
If you were expecting a prestige biopic about the Pacific Northwest’s most infamous resident, think again. Ted Bunny—and no, that’s not a typo—follows the story of the illegitimate son of Ted Bundy. In a premise that feels like it was ripped straight from a 1980s grindhouse flick, the titular character was apparently raised in isolation surrounded by rabbits. The peace of his lapine sanctuary is shattered when a documentary crew makes the fatal mistake of showing up at his doorstep, triggering a manic killing spree that promises plenty of gore and absurdist humor.
Producer Jeff Miller, who recently made waves with Popeye the Slayer Man, seems to be leaning heavily into the "gonzo horror" subgenre. By taking a name that sounds like a childhood pun and attaching it to the legacy of a real-life monster, the film walks a fine line between camp and carnage. The trailer suggests a low-budget, high-energy affair that doesn't take itself too seriously, which might be exactly what the indie horror scene needs right now to shake up the standard slasher tropes.
The Dee Wallace Factor
Perhaps the most exciting element of Ted Bunny is the inclusion of horror royalty Dee Wallace. Known for her iconic roles in The Howling, Cujo, and Critters, Wallace brings a level of genre prestige to the project. While the trailer keeps much of her role under wraps, having a certified "Scream Queen" in the mix suggests that Ted Bunny is aiming for more than just "so-bad-it's-good" status. Her presence often signals a film that understands its horror roots, even when the premise is as wild as this one.
Wallace is joined by a cast that seems game for the madness. The dynamic between the city-dwelling documentary crew and the feral, rabbit-obsessed protagonist creates a classic "fish out of water" scenario—except the water is replaced with a bloodbath. The film leans into the trope of the "sins of the father," exploring how the son of Bundy deals with a legacy he never asked for, albeit in the most theatrical and violent way possible.
Building the Twisted Serial Killer Universe
Ted Bunny isn't just a standalone feature; it’s the opening salvo of a new cinematic universe. The "Twisted Serial Killer Universe" is a bold play in an era where audiences are increasingly hungry for shared worlds. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe might be dealing with multiversal fatigue, the horror community has always had a soft spot for crossovers. We’ve seen Freddy vs. Jason and Alien vs. Predator, but Miller seems to be building something from the ground up, likely focusing on bizarre iterations of historical or fictional killers.
This trend follows in the footsteps of the "Pooh-verse" (the Cineverse-backed Twisted Childhood Universe), proving there is a massive market for low-budget horror that subverts familiar imagery. By launching in February, Ted Bunny is positioning itself as a cult favorite in the making. Whether it leads to a "Jeffrey Dahmer-Duck" or a "Zodiac Zebra" remains to be seen, but for now, horror fans have a very strange rabbit hole to fall down.
Release Date and Expectations
Expectations for the film are high among the indie crowd who appreciate the experimental side of the genre. Ted Bunny is set to launch this February. Based on the trailer, fans should prepare for a mix of practical effects, dark humor, and a performance from the lead that looks genuinely unhinged. If the "Twisted Serial Killer Universe" can maintain this level of creative absurdity, we’re in for a very wild ride over the next few years.