Jeremiah Kipp, the underground horror filmmaker behind The Mortuary Assistant and Slapface, has died. His partner, Lindsay Katt, confirmed the news through the Long Island International Film Expo.
Kipp’s most substantial feature had arrived earlier in 2026: a film adaptation of the 2022 indie horror game The Mortuary Assistant. The project marked a significant crossover for a game that had built a following through its unsettling take on mortuary work.
“Jeremiah was a gentle soul who was always generous with advice and sharing his knowledge of cinema,” the Film Expo wrote. “He leaves behind many friends and an important legacy.”
A demonic presence in the morgue
The film follows Rebecca, played by Willa Holland of Kingdom Hearts, as she starts a new job at a morgue while trying to rebuild her life. What initially appears to be a grim but ordinary position soon becomes something far more disturbing.
Rebecca begins experiencing strange visions before her employer, Raymond, played by Paul Sparks of Boardwalk Empire, explains the danger. A demonic spirit has attached itself to one of the bodies, leaving Rebecca to perform specific rituals in an attempt to remove the entity.
The adaptation was a notable example of a video game horror property moving beyond its original format. It also became a crossover success for publisher DreadXP, previously known for its Dread X collections and other independent horror releases. RETROCADE readers can find more gaming and industry coverage in our Arcade Blog.
Tributes from the horror community
News of Kipp’s sudden death prompted tributes across New York’s horror-film community. He was remembered for sharing his time, enthusiasm and filmmaking knowledge with fellow creators.
“15 years ago Jeremiah Kipp made my dreams come true. I had a very dark and personal story about suicide and he believed it needed to be told,” wrote The Beer Fridge. “I got to write and produce Crestfallen as a film alongside him. He became a mentor and a friend. Now he is gone and I am crushed.” Read the tribute.
Dread also paid tribute to Kipp, writing that he brought a distinctive voice and passion to both Slapface and The Mortuary Assistant. The studio extended its condolences to his family, friends and collaborators in a statement posted by the studio.
Kipp’s final projects
Before directing The Mortuary Assistant, Kipp worked across a range of independent horror productions, including short films and the 2021 Shudder release Slapface. A tribute from collaborator The Beer Fridge was dated October 16, 2026.
Kipp had also recently completed production on Faceless, a forthcoming horror feature rooted in Cambodian folklore. Details reported about the production describe a film connected to both English- and Khmer-language filmmaking.
The Mortuary Assistant did not reach the same level of attention as some other recent game adaptations, including Iron Lung, but its performance appeared strong enough to support DreadXP’s wider ambitions. The publisher has also been developing cross-media projects, including a deal with Blumhouse and YouTuber MatPat to adapt Amanda the Adventurer.
For more coverage of games, screen adaptations and the wider enthusiast scene, explore RETROCADE’s arcade video collection and arcade machine buying guide.
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