True Crime Doc ‘The Speedway Murders’ On Unsolved Burger Chef Murders In 1970s Indiana Acquired By Vertical

EXCLUSIVE: Vertical has acquired North American rights to The Speedway Murders, a true crime doc examining the real-life unsolved Burger Chef murders that made national headlines and gripped 1970s Speedway, Indiana, home to racing spectacle, the Indy 500.

Hailing from writer-directors Luke Rynderman & Adam Kamien and Altitude Films, the film has been slated for a day-and-date release later this year.

The Speedway Murders unravels a mystery surrounding four teenagers toiling away on the graveyard shift at their local Burger Chef, in the gritty small-town landscape of Speedway. When police respond to a midnight call there, they discover the restaurant eerily deserted — lights aglow, back door ajar, and the young workers vanished without a trace. The enigma deepens when, the following day, the bodies of the teenagers are discovered in the depths of the nearby woods. Employing reenactments to explore four divergent theories, the film leads the audience through the intricacies of that grisly night, challenging assumptions, casting doubt on the innocence of various characters, and weaving an intricate web of intrigue.

Vertical SVP of Acquisitions Tony Piantedosi said that “Adam and Luke have injected a sense of urgency into this decades-old case that claimed four lives in one haunting night, particularly through how they’ve used the structure of the film to present different theories, brought to vivid life by the innovative reenactments, which far exceed those in most documentaries in terms of filmmaking craft.” He called the film “a must-watch for true crime enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by the dark allure of unsolved mysteries.”

Starring Essie Randles (Apples Never Fall), Nya Cofie (The Unlisted), Davida McKenzie (Silent Night), and Joseph Zada (Total Control), the doc is produced by Bonnie McBride (Demonic), Anna Vincent (I Am Mother), Louise Nathanson (Golda), and Lisa Scott (The Tourist). Ari Harrison (Talk to Me) served as executive producer.

“We’re thrilled to work with Vertical to bring the film to audiences later this year,” said filmmakers Rynderman and Kamien. “The mystery of the so-called Burger Chef Murders has endured for over 45 years, and yet remains unsolved. In getting this film out into the world we’re hopeful new evidence will come to light, that the case can be closed, and those effected by the crime will finally have a sense of relief.”

Vertical Partner Peter Jarowey and Piantedosi negotiated the deal on behalf of the company, with Altitude Films’ Mike Runagall repping the production.