Dark Zone Productions presents
TheRiversideStrangler
Based on the novel by Dr. Paul Fitzgerald
Portland, 1989. He calls the morning show live, from a different payphone every time.
Directed and produced by Paul Fitzgerald. Headed to festivals in the US, Canada and abroad.
The book the film is based on. Available in hardcover.
Festival dates, release day and first word on merch. Nothing else.
The film
A psychological crime-horror film about a killer who uses live radio as his stage.
Portland, Oregon, spring 1989. A killer starts calling a popular morning radio show from payphones across the city. On air, calmly and in detail, he describes what he has done. The city is terrified, the ratings climb, and the two hosts are pulled deeper into his game with every call. The papers give him a name: the Riverside Strangler.
The film trades gore for dread: psychological horror, suspense, and a hard look at what happens when media spectacle meets real violence.
Most of the film was shot in Burlington, Ontario, with additional footage in Portland, Oregon. Residents volunteered as extras and local businesses opened their doors.
| Production | Dark Zone Productions (independent) |
|---|---|
| Directed & produced by | Paul Fitzgerald |
| Script help | Ryan O'Dowd |
| Based on | The Riverside Strangler, the 2025 novel by Dr. Paul Fitzgerald |
| Inspiration | A real, never-verified 1997 radio call-in that Fitzgerald had wanted to fictionalize for years |
| Genre | Psychological crime-horror, suspense |
The novel
Dr. Paul Fitzgerald's debut crime-horror novel, published December 2025.
A killer calls a Portland morning show from a different payphone each time and describes his crimes live on air. The hosts become part of the story, the story follows them to San Diego, and it ends on a cliffhanger.
Dr. Paul Fitzgerald is a Burlington, Ontario journalist, publicist, columnist and filmmaker, with a PhD in Journalism and Communications. He is founder and CEO of Salt & Pepper Media, a PR and marketing firm with offices in Canada and the US. He began writing The Riverside Strangler while working on his PhD; his earlier books include the nonfiction Smoke on the Water.
Release
Where the film is now and where it's headed.
Festival selections and screening dates will be posted here as they're confirmed.
For media & festivals
Everything a programmer or journalist needs on one page.
In 1989 Portland, a killer confesses his crimes live on a morning radio show, and the hosts who take his calls become part of his game.
| Title | The Riverside Strangler |
|---|---|
| Genre | Psychological crime-horror |
| Production | Dark Zone Productions |
| Director / producer | Paul Fitzgerald |
| Source | Novel by Dr. Paul Fitzgerald (2025) |
| Locations | Burlington, Ontario; Portland, Oregon |
| Status | Post-production; festival submissions underway |
| Release | Streaming, TV and apps, targeted fall 2026 |
Trailer, key art and the book cover. Stills, credits and runtime will be added as they're finalized.
Press inquiries: Salt & Pepper Media.
Official store
The official store opens closer to release.
Coming soon
Official merch will drop here first. Join the list and you'll get the link before anyone else.
Stay on the line
One email when the film hits a festival near you, one when it streams, and first word on merch.