The story goes that Kevin Williamson was inspired to write the screenplay for the original Scream (watch it HERE) after seeing a TV news report on The Gainesville Ripper in early 1994. Now a new Scream movie is set to reach theatres on January 14, 2022, and discovery+ has announced that they will be launching a two-hour docu-special called Scream: The True Story, part of their “Shock Docs” series, on the same day.
The docu-special promises to “delve into the real-life horror of Danny Rolling, a murderer who believed he was a possessed by a demon and whose gruesome crime spree inspired the blockbuster film.” It will use “a groundbreaking paranormal investigation, archival media and expert interviews” to take a closer look at “the alleged diabolical forces involved and whether Rolling’s spirit still lurks in the shadows.”
Here’s some more information on Scream: The True Story:
Beginning in 1989, Danny Rolling stalked and murdered eight victims in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Gainesville, Florida, including five college students. Rolling claimed he was possessed by a demon named “Gemini” when he committed his crimes; he was eventually convicted and executed in 2006. Now, paranormal investigator Steve Shippy and renowned psychic medium Cindy Kaza join forces to uncover the truth behind Rolling’s claims that a demon made him kill.
“We all know the Scream films, but the inspiration behind them is a terrifying true story that many don’t know,” said Shippy. “As we began to peel back the layers, the investigation became more and more disturbing. There was a malicious, devious energy coming at us from every angle. It felt like pure evil.”
“This was one of the most intense and challenging experiences I’ve ever had,” said Kaza. “We made contact with a sinister presence, and it was definitely the most manipulative spirit that I have ever worked with. I felt like I was being messed with during the entire investigation. It shook me to my core.”
Shippy and Kaza are the first to ever conduct a paranormal investigation at the campsite near the University of Florida campus from which Rolling stalked his victims, as well as inside his childhood home in Louisiana, where aggressive poltergeist activity plagues the current homeowners. Interviews with experts and those connected to the case, including Rolling’s ex-fiancée, reveal that evil has run in his family for generations. Shippy and Kaza are confronted by powerful malevolent energy during their intense investigation – could it be the demonic force that possessed Rolling, or is it the spirit of Rolling himself? Fearing for everyone’s safety, they call in a demonologist to conduct an exorcism and help battle off the evil forces.
Scream: The True Story was produced by Campfire Studios for discovery+. Campfire’s Ross Girard, Mark McCune, Ross M. Dinerstein, and Rebecca Evans served as executive producers alongside Cecile Bouchardeau Weiland of discovery+.
Will you be watching Scream: The True Story? Are you a fan of the Shock Docs series? Let us know by leaving a comment below.