My name is Rocco Ciarrocchi. I am an actor, former professional wrestler, podcast host, producer, and writer, and I am currently embarking on a new chapter in my career as a filmmaker. I am developing my first short film, a queer horror slasher titled The Stutterer, and I am reaching out to respectfully ask for your support in helping promote this project and its active Kickstarter campaign.
The Stutterer is a queer horror slasher short and the first installment in a planned trilogy. I am seeking a modest budget of $3,000–$4,000 to bring this film to life, covering cast, crew, locations, effects, and production costs. I have carefully calculated all expenses, and several recognizable names from the horror and professional wrestling communities are already attached to the project.
If you are willing to support independent queer horror, I would be deeply grateful if you could share or promote the Kickstarter campaign. Any contribution helps, and even sharing the link on social media makes a meaningful difference.
Kickstarter link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/queer/the-stutterer-queer-horror-trilogy
The Stutterer is a blood-soaked throwback to classic 1980s slasher films, embracing the gritty, retro tone of the era while centering queer characters and perspectives. The first short functions as a standalone slasher, while the second film explores the killer’s origin story, and the third concludes the trilogy with his ultimate downfall.
The story follows multiple couples—gay, lesbian, and straight—whose romantic getaway turns deadly when an unseen predator stalks them in the woods. As bodies pile up, the truth is revealed: the killer is a police officer hiding behind a badge, a smile, and a tragic past that twisted him into a monster. His stutter, once a source of shame, becomes the chilling rhythm of death as he hunts those he believes society values more than him.
Stylish, queer-centered, and relentlessly violent, The Stutterer explores the horror of being different in a world that punishes difference—until the punished becomes the predator.
He’s out, proud, and cutting deep.
He stutters when he speaks, but never when he kills.
Confirmed cast members I am currently allowed to announce include horror icon Debbie Rochon, as well as AEW wrestling superstars Ace Austin and Red Velvet.
Cast:
Rocco Ciarrocchi as The Stutterer / Killer Officer
Debbie Rochon as Misty
Ace Austin as Tom
August Seidel as Brent
Vinny Pontari as Dale
Diamond Princess Franklin as Winnie
Felicia Nguyen as Tammy
Brooke Taylor as Tiffany
John Carlo Guilino as John the Jogger
Directed by:
Nicholas Paul Pontoski
Rocco Ciarrocchi
Jade Figueroa
Written by:
Stuart J. Mitchem
Rocco Ciarrocchi
Created by:
Stuart J. Mitchem
Rocco Ciarrocchi
Once completed, the film will be submitted to queer and horror film festivals, followed by a planned streaming release. I am also in early conversations with Here TV, OUTtv, and Breaking Glass Pictures regarding potential production and distribution opportunities.
While The Stutterer exists firmly within the slasher genre, I want to be clear that this project does not promote violence or harm. At its core, this trilogy carries a simple but vital message: be kind. It aims to highlight the emotional and psychological toll of bullying, ridicule, and marginalization—particularly toward queer individuals and people who struggle with speech impediments.
This project is deeply personal to me. I grew up being bullied both for my stutter and for being a queer male, experiences that shaped who I am today. Through this trilogy, I hope to bring visibility to those struggles while encouraging empathy, understanding, and compassion. Cruel words and mockery can leave lasting wounds, and this story exists to remind audiences of the real consequences of cruelty.
In my adult life, I actively donate to LGBTQ+ organizations and foundations that support people who stutter. If this short film or the trilogy earns any profit, those funds will be donated back to these communities. For me, The Stutterer is not just a film—it is a way to give voice, visibility, and support to people who are too often misunderstood or dismissed.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/queer/the-stutterer-queer-horror-trilogy
