An AEW active talent, a controversial former WWE star, two AEW veterans, and a Japanese deathmatch icon have all landed in the same indie horror movie. Ace Austin, Matt Riddle, Red Velvet, Mercedes Martinez, and FMW legend Atsushi Onita are among the wrestling names attached to The Stutterer, and the first-look images are already drenched in blood.
The first photos from the production show Austin in a gore-heavy murder scene, getting brutally killed on screen, along with behind-the-scenes shots of his bloodied face. The images serve as visual proof the film is real and in active production.
The full wrestling lineup attached to the project spans multiple promotions and continents:
- Ace Austin (AEW) as Tom
- Red Velvet (AEW)
- Matt Riddle (former WWE)
- Mercedes Martinez
- Atsushi Onita (Japanese deathmatch legend)
Beyond the wrestlers, the cast includes Eric Roberts, Rhonda Shear as Misty, Lloyd Kaufman as Husband, Mel Heflin as Wife, Brinke Stevens, and others.
What The Stutterer Is About
The film is written and directed by Rocky Ciarrocchi, who also plays the title character. According to the project’s IMDb page, it is targeting a 2027 release.
Ciarrocchi has described The Stutterer as a queer horror film and the first chapter of a planned trilogy, pitched as a blood-soaked throwback to 1980s slashers with practical gore and brutal kills. The story follows a masked killer who terrorizes parks, campsites, homes, and city streets while hiding in plain sight as a trusted police officer.
As the body count rises, viewers learn the killer is “The Stutterer,” a man scarred by lifelong bullying, rejection, and the loss of the only love he ever knew. A teaser released earlier this year shows the character murdering helpless victims in a park.
A Personal Project For Its Director
On the film’s Kickstarter page, Ciarrocchi explained that the movie comes from a deeply personal place rooted in his own experience.
“The Stutterer is deeply personal to me. As someone who grew up with a speech impediment, I experienced significant bullying and isolation. This film tells the story of a man who stutters, someone marginalized and ridiculed, who finally finds love, only to lose it, sending him into darkness,” Ciarrocchi wrote. “My goal is to elevate awareness around stuttering and bring visibility to an experience rarely explored in film, particularly within the horror genre.”
He added that the project is built on a message rather than violence for its own sake.
“I’m a filmmaker who grew up with a speech impediment. I know what it feels like to be mocked, underestimated, or made to feel small. THE STUTTERER was created from those experiences, not to excuse violence, but to show the importance of empathy and kindness.”
Ciarrocchi is leaning into the wrestling connection on the crowdfunding side, offering perks tied to Austin and Red Velvet, including a Zoom call from set with both stars and a chance to appear in a scene with Austin.
The latest production update came on May 4, 2026, revealing that Kobi Frumer, Charles Chudabala, and Louie P had wrapped their roles, along with Anders Hove, known for playing Vampire Radu in the Subspecies films, who wrapped a virtual role. Once completed, the film is planned for submission to queer and horror film festivals before a wider release.