A young woman and her friends come face-to-face with the fabled Leatherface Lady, believed to slay hikers on the Appalachian Trail, only to discover the killer may, in fact, be the local urban legend’s grandson.
The Leatherface Lady melds Creep with a touch of Psycho and Friday the 13th — something akin to Grimm’s darkest fables crossed with a blend of horror sub-genres. The film pays homage to the classics while keeping the found-footage element front and center, paving the way for franchise potential with the local legend: June Harper, The Leatherface Lady.
There are stretches along the Appalachian Trail where you shouldn’t venture out too far, especially alone. According to the urban legend, you could vanish without a trace. The North Clarendon pass in the rural Vermont Green Mountains is one of them.
It is believed an old hag inhabiting the mountains makes a sport out of luring hikers to her cabin — the unlucky souls are never seen or heard from again.
To this day, every time a hiker goes missing near the pass, the locals repeat the tale of THE LEATHERFACE LADY — the tale of a woman known for her beauty and feared for the tragedy that altered her fate.
June Harper’s misfortune is the backstory for The Leatherface Lady Universe. An urban legend about a woman who lures hikers off the Appalachian Trail in order to steal their skin to stitch to her disfigured face. Whether June’s story is the actual origin of The Leatherface Lady — or just the tragic tale of one woman’s fate — will not be disclosed. Whether she is real, alive, dead, a ghost, or never existed at all will never be made known. She is the villain of local lore and nothing more. — JUNE HARPER (THE LEATHERFACE LADY)
A cabin in the woods, surrounded by pristine forests, the Vermont Green Mountains, and hundreds of acres of complete isolation. Imagine three New York City girls leaving the city behind and stepping into complete silence. The only sound one hears is nature’s bird song. The tranquility doesn’t last long when one visits Harper Cabin.
* All location photos are the actual secured location for the film — 300 acres in North Clarendon, VT, backing up to the Appalachian Trail.
One legend, told across every format — a multi-revenue-stream franchise already in motion.
The hybrid found-footage horror feature at the heart of the universe, in development with Radar Pictures.
In developmentA 12-episode vertical series expanding the legend. Episode 1: Peeling Beauty.
Episode 1 complete · screening belowThe first full vertical episode of The Leatherface Lady.
Old Orchard’s Lore: The Leatherface Lady — Vol. 1, June’s Story. Published, with a graphic novel in development.
Vol. 1 published
Tonia Kempler is a multi-hyphenate, genre-agnostic Producer/Director/Screenwriter who lives in New York, though her roots run deep in a rural south steeped in the occult traditions of the Gullah Geechee and the animism of the Cherokees. Growing up surrounded and empowered by the lore and practices of these mystical cultures, Tonia leans toward macabre worlds with isolated, damaged, yet capable and empathic female leads.
Her approach to storytelling and understanding audience engagement is fortified by a career in the Music Industry, including concert production and managing Grammy-Award-Winning producers, engineers, and songwriters. Tonia worked closely with Jheryl Busby, former President of Motown Records, on the launch of Def Soul Classics (Patti LaBelle and Barry White re-releases). She formed her first company at the age of 19, managing artists she signed to major labels.
Tonia is a serial entrepreneur. She is the founder of Bellem Entertainment (a full-service production company with a stable of award-winning filmmakers), Entangled Exposure Entertainment (Canada), The 9 Armadillos (Writer’s Room), and The Old Orchard Film Festival (Rutland, VT). She develops comics/graphic novels, podcasts, web series, documentaries, unscripted & scripted TV. Her current focus is on projects with IP/multi-revenue stream potential. She specializes in world-building and character development.
Radar Pictures and Buffalo 8 has joined Bellem Entertainment with Leatherface Lady, their found-footage horror feature. Tonia’s accomplishments include over 200 awards, including a Top 10% Academy Nicholl’s script, Top 1% on Coverfly, inclusion in Gotham Week, a No. 1 bestselling comic, multi-award winning short films/scripts, placement in Stowe’s TV Writer’s Room/Producer Lab, Cinestory, Page Awards, Austin Film Festival, and the ScreenCraft Fellowship.
Khaliah Ali is a prominent humanitarian, author, and advocate for her father’s legacy with a wealth of international experience in business, politics, and humanitarian aid. With a successful career in fashion, her sewing patterns and ready-to-wear apparel have garnered widespread recognition, making her a top-selling name in the industry.
Khaliah’s impactful television appearances, print features, and public speaking engagements have allowed her to champion her humanitarian efforts, serving on the boards of organizations like the World Food Program, Project Sunshine, We Are Family, and Help USA. Along with Jason Flom, she is a freedom fighter for the wrongfully convicted. Khaliah is also an advocate for animal rights and an outspoken proponent of ethical practices in the diamond industry.
Khaliah’s commitment to humanitarian causes is evident in her work, such as her visit to the Congo to commemorate the 35th anniversary of her father’s historic “Rumble in the Jungle” bout, resulting in the establishment of a girls’ school and vital aid for hospitals. Her dedication to public service has earned her the National Congressional Award.
Bulent brings rare authenticity to Bellem Entertainment through direct experience few filmmakers possess. A Turkish immigrant who served two tours in Iraq with the U.S. Army, Gurcan spent 11 years as a federal agent with U.S. Customs and Border Protection working narcotics and human trafficking.
Since 2018, he’s appeared in 24+ episodes of Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid franchise, earning recognition as the “Barehanded Killer” and securing both a consultancy with Renegade 83 (the Emmy-nominated production company behind the franchise) and a first-look deal with Discovery Network. Transitioning to filmmaking in 2020, Gurcan wrote and directed his first award-winning action short before partnering with Kempler at Bellem Entertainment.
His scripts draw directly from lived experiences across poverty in Turkey, war in Iraq, and decade-long operations against cartels and traffickers. A licensed pilot and co-founder of The Old Orchard Film Festival, Gurcan’s development slate spans action, horror, psychological thrillers, and dark comedies across all formats — informed by authentic understanding of survival, isolation, and high-stakes decision-making under extreme conditions.
Shaun Bless is a 3X Grammy Award-winning music producer, filmmaker, and creative operator with more than two decades of experience developing and executing projects across music, film, and digital media. Throughout his career, he has worked with major artists including Beyoncé, Eve, Missy Elliott, and Lady Gaga, and has co-produced records for artists such as Ashlee Simpson, Fantasia, and Keyshia Cole.
Beyond music, Shaun has expanded into directing and producing film and digital content, applying his creative instincts alongside a strategic understanding of how entertainment properties are built, packaged, and positioned for audiences. He currently partners with Warner Chappell Publishing and collaborates with songwriters across multiple genres.
As the founder of Under The Influence Agency, Shaun Bless built a network of social media creators and influencers with a combined reach of over 23 million followers, working with major brands including Coach, Triller, Fashion Nova, and L’Oréal. Shaun holds a Master’s degree in Leadership and Entertainment, reinforcing his ability to operate at the intersection of creativity, production, and strategic leadership within the entertainment industry.
Sr. Food Editor, Food Network (Chopped). Works with Propagate. Previously worked with BET and MTV.
For investment inquiries, screening links, the full pitch deck, script, or comic, reach out directly:
Bellem Entertainment · New York