Key takeaways
- Jeremiah Kipp, director of the 2024 film adaptation of The Mortuary Assistant, has died; the Long Island International Film Expo confirmed his passing through his partner.
- Kipp directed Slapface for Shudder in 2021 and had completed production on Faceless, a horror feature based on Cambodian folklore, before his death.
- The Mortuary Assistant film, starring Willa Holland and Paul Sparks, adapted the 2022 indie horror game and became a crossover success for publisher DreadXP.
- Kipp was recognized as a mentor who supported emerging filmmakers and championed unconventional horror narratives within the independent film community.
Jeremiah Kipp, an underground horror filmmaker whose recent work included directing the adaptation of the indie game The Mortuary Assistant, has died. The Long Island International Film Expo confirmed his passing through his partner Lindsay Katt. In a statement, the Film Expo described Kipp as “a gentle soul who was always generous with advice and sharing his knowledge of cinema,” and noted that “he leaves behind many friends and an important legacy.”
The Mortuary Assistant Film Comes to Completion
Released in 2024, The Mortuary Assistant film stands as Kipp’s largest production to date. The movie adapts the 2022 indie horror game from publisher DreadXP, following the story of Rebecca (portrayed by Willa Holland from Kingdom Hearts), a woman struggling with personal hardship who takes a job at a morgue as a step toward recovery. Paul Sparks, known from Boardwalk Empire, plays Raymond, her employer at the funeral home.
A Story of Supernatural Terror
The narrative turns supernatural when Rebecca begins experiencing unexplained visions during her shifts. Raymond then reveals the source of her disturbance: a demonic entity has somehow attached itself to one of the cadavers at the morgue. To survive and escape the presence, Rebecca must perform specific rituals designed to expel the spirit. The film bridges the interactive horror mechanics of the original game with the narrative structure demanded by cinema.
Casting and Production
Kipp assembled a cast with recognizable television credits, bringing credibility and reach to what could have remained a niche horror property. The production schedule allowed him to complete the film and move forward with other projects, demonstrating his continued engagement with horror filmmaking despite the challenges of the industry.
A Career in Underground Horror
Prior to The Mortuary Assistant, Kipp had built a reputation through multiple indie horror projects. In 2021, he directed Slapface for Shudder, the streamer known for acquiring independent and experimental horror films. Before that, he accumulated numerous short films and low-budget features that defined his approach to the genre. His films typically reflected an uncompromising aesthetic and willingness to explore uncomfortable subject matter.
Slapface and the Shudder Era
Slapface marked a significant point in Kipp’s career, gaining distribution through an established platform and reaching audiences beyond festival circuits. The film demonstrated that Kipp could scale his vision while maintaining his distinctive voice, a balance that many independent horror directors struggle to achieve.
Unfinished Work: Faceless
At the time of his death, Kipp had wrapped production on Faceless, an upcoming horror feature drawing from Cambodian folklore. The film represents his final directorial work and will be released in the context of his passing, adding a reflective dimension to its eventual premiere and festival screenings. No specific release date has been announced.
Mentorship and Industry Impact
Beyond his directing work, Kipp cultivated relationships with other filmmakers and creators, serving as a mentor and champion of unconventional horror narratives. Fifteen years before his death, he championed a deeply personal screenplay about suicide, believing the story deserved to be told. He worked alongside the screenplay’s creator to produce Crestfallen as a film, a collaboration that became both a professional partnership and an enduring personal friendship.
This mentoring approach reflected Kipp’s investment in the horror community beyond his own projects. The New York horror filmmaking community has responded to his death with expressions of loss, describing a figure who fostered emerging talent through his time, technical knowledge, and creative conviction. DreadXP released an official statement expressing condolences to Kipp’s family, friends, and collaborators, emphasizing that he “brought his singular voice and passion to Dread through SLAPFACE and THE MORTUARY ASSISTANT.”
The Mortuary Assistant as a Crossover Success
The original 2022 game achieved crossover status for DreadXP, a publisher known primarily for curated horror collections and indie scare projects. The game broke containment on the typical indie horror audience, reaching players unfamiliar with the publisher’s previous work. This success informed the decision to adapt it for film, betting that the property could sustain multiple media formats.
The film’s completion marked validation of that bet, though the project has not achieved the cultural penetration of other recent game-to-film adaptations. Iron Lung, another indie horror game adaptation, generated greater waves in mainstream discourse. Nonetheless, The Mortuary Assistant’s crossover success convinced DreadXP and similar studios to continue pursuing game adaptation deals, signaling confidence in the viability of indie horror properties across mediums.
Expanding Game Adaptation Efforts
DreadXP has since announced a multi-project deal with Blumhouse Productions and content creator Matpat (the creator behind YouTube’s Game Theory channel) to adapt Amanda the Adventurer into theatrical and streaming features. The partnership reflects the growing perception within the entertainment industry that indie gaming properties can serve as source material for film and television productions, despite the unpredictable track record of such adaptations.
Kipp’s work on The Mortuary Assistant contributed to establishing that viability, proving that indie horror games could attract experienced filmmakers willing to invest their creative credibility in the project.
Source: Kotaku
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Jeremiah Kipp's most recent completed film?
The Mortuary Assistant, released in 2024. The film adapted the 2022 indie horror game from DreadXP and starred Willa Holland and Paul Sparks.
What other horror films did Jeremiah Kipp direct?
Kipp directed Slapface for Shudder in 2021, along with numerous shorts and indie productions. At the time of his death, he had wrapped production on Faceless, an upcoming horror feature based on Cambodian folklore.
What is The Mortuary Assistant about?
The film follows Rebecca, played by Willa Holland, who takes a job at a morgue as part of her recovery. She experiences visions and learns from her employer Raymond (Paul Sparks) that a demonic entity has attached itself to one of the cadavers. She must perform specific rituals to expel the presence.
