William Friedkin’s 1987 Serial Killer Thriller RAMPAGE Getting a 4K Ultra HD Release
Director William Friedkin’s 1987 serial killer thriller Rampage is getting a 4K Ultra HD release from Kino Lorber. This is a film that I haven’t watched since high school, and with this remastered version coming out, it looks like it’s time to revisit it.
Rampage tells the story of serial killer Charlie Reece and it’s based on real-life ”Vampire Killer” Richard Trenton Chase. The film explores the chilling descent into madness of a seemingly ordinary man, played by Michael Biehn. As Reece's inner demons take hold, he embarks on a violent killing spree that shocks a small California town.
When he’s finally caught and brought to trial, the district attorney struggles with his ideas of guilt as Reece’s belief he’s done nothing wrong appears to convince the jury.
The film dives deep into the psychology of its central character, offering a gripping and disturbing look at the thin line that separates sanity from madness. Rampage is a suspenseful thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats as it examines the dark and terrifying facets of the human psyche.
While Rampage was made in 1987, it had a long road to actually getting released. Its distributor, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, went bankrupt after it was made, which left the film on the shelf for five years. Friedkin re-edited the film and even changed the ending before Miramax picked it up and released it officially in 1992.
There’s no release date yet for the Rampage, but Kino Lorber has placed it as Coming Soon.