Psycho Killer (film)

Last updated

Psycho Killer
Psycho Killer poster.jpg
Teaser poster
Directed by Gavin Polone
Written by Andrew Kevin Walker
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMagnus Nordenhof Jønck
Music bySven Faulconer
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release date
  • February 20, 2026 (2026-02-20)
Countries
  • United States
  • Germany
LanguageEnglish

Psycho Killer is an upcoming horror thriller film [1] directed by Gavin Polone in his feature directorial debut, written by Andrew Kevin Walker. The film follows police officer Jane Thorne (Georgina Campbell) on her mission to take down a serial killer known as "the Satanic Slasher" (James Preston Rogers) after he murdered her state trooper husband. Logan Miller, Grace Dove, and Malcolm McDowell star in supporting roles.

Contents

Psycho Killer will be released theatrically in the United States by 20th Century Studios on February 20, 2026.

Premise

Following the brutal murder of her husband, a Kansas highway patrol officer sets out on a journey to track down the perpetrator. As the hunt progresses, she comes to realize the man responsible is a sadistic serial killer, and the depth of his mental depravity and his sinister agenda is more twisted than anyone could have imagined. [2]

20th Century Studios

Cast

Production

Development

The project was in development for several years and with different filmmakers. An early draft of the script, written by Andrew Kevin Walker, appeared online in 2007. [4] In March 2009, Fred Durst announced that he was going to direct the film, [5] scheduled to begin shooting in August 2009. [6] In June 2009, Durst said that Psycho Killer would be his next film. [7] However, on November 2, 2010, TheWrap reported that Gavin Polone would direct the film instead, and that Eli Roth and Eric Newman would produce it, with StudioCanal attached to fully finance the film with a budget estimated between $13 and 17 million. Shooting was expected to begin in Michigan late in the second quarter of 2011. [8] Roth was still attached to the project up until 2011. [9] In May 16, 2015, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Germany's K5 International would finance and produce the film. [10]

On February 10, 2023, Collider reported that New Regency had greenlit the film with Walker, Roy Lee, Miri Yoon, and Matt Berenson producing, and that shooting was expected to begin early in the second quarter, while reiterating that Polone would direct. [11]

Casting

On November 2, 2010, it was reported that the film was in the midst of casting, with the producers expecting to cast a rising actress "who audiences are familiar with, but don't know as a star just yet" to play the lead. The actress' name was not revealed. [8]

On February 10, 2023, Collider reported that Georgina Campbell would play the film's lead. [11] The next month, Deadline Hollywood reported that Logan Miller had joined the cast and would play Marvin, described as "a goth-type nebbish who works for the mysterious Pendleton in his massive mansion", and that Campbell would play police officer Jane Thorne, who is on a mission to take down a serial killer known as "the Satanic Slasher" following the murder of her state trooper husband. [3] That April, Deadline reported that former professional wrestler [12] James Preston Rogers would play the title character, a serial killer known as "the Satanic Slasher". [1] On October 1, 2025, following the release of the first trailer, Malcolm McDowell and Grace Dove were announced as part of the cast. [13]

Filming

Principal photography was completed by 2023, [14] with Magnus Nordenhof Jønck serving as the cinematographer. [15]

Post-production

On April 25, 2024, it was reported that the film had earned an R rating for "strong bloody violence, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language". [4]

On October 1, 2025, it was reported that Sven Faulconer had composed the score. [16]

Release

Psycho Killer will be released theatrically in the United States by 20th Century Studios on February 20, 2026. [14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Grobar, Matt (April 17, 2023). "'Psycho Killer': James Preston Rogers Latest To Join New Regency's Horror-Thriller". Deadline Hollywood .
  2. "Psycho Killer". 20th Century Studios . Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Grobar, Matt (March 31, 2023). "Logan Miller Joins 'Barbarian's Georgina Campbell In New Regency Horror-Thriller 'Psycho Killer'". Deadline Hollywood .
  4. 1 2 Hamman, Cody (April 25, 2024). "Psycho Killer: thriller from the writer of Se7en earns R rating for strong bloody violence & much more". JoBlo.com .
  5. Dang, Simon (March 26, 2009). "Durst' Directorial Career Goes Psycho". The Playlist.
  6. Barton, Steve (March 25, 2009). "Fred Durst and Seven Scribe Deliver Psycho Killer". Dread Central .
  7. "Fred Durst Talks New Film 'Psycho Killer'". The Film Stage. June 30, 2009.
  8. 1 2 Sneider, Jeff (November 2, 2010). "Gavin Polone to Direct Eli Roth-Produced 'Psycho Killer'". TheWrap .
  9. Finke, Nikki (February 12, 2011). "UTA Signs TV/Film Producer Gavin Polone". Deadline Hollywood .
  10. Ritman, Alex (May 16, 2015). "Cannes: 'Se7en' Writer's 'Psycho Killer' Gets K5's Backing". The Hollywood Reporter .
  11. 1 2 O'Rourke, Ryan (February 10, 2023). "Andrew Kevin Walker's 'Psycho Killer' Greenlit at New Regency Starring Georgina Campbell". Collider .
  12. Hamman, Cody (April 17, 2023). "Psycho Killer: James Preston Rogers cast as title character in thriller from the writer of Se7en". JoBlo.com .
  13. Bilington, Alex (October 1, 2025). "First Trailer for Serial Killer Film 'Psycho Killer' with Georgina Campbell". FirstShowing.net . Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  14. 1 2 Garner, Glenn (July 11, 2025). "Disney Sets 'Rental Family' & 'Psycho Killer' Release Dates". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  15. "Magnus Nordenhof Jønck - Filmography". Mabumbe. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  16. "Sven Faulconer Scoring Gavin Polone's 'Psycho Killer'". Film Music Reporter. October 1, 2025.