Cropsey (film)
Cropsey | |
---|---|
Theatrical Release Poster | |
Directed by |
Joshua Zeman Barbara Brancaccio |
Produced by |
Joshua Zeman Barbara Brancaccio Zachary Mortensen |
Written by | Joshua Zeman |
Music by | Alexander Lasarenko |
Cinematography | Chad Davidson |
Edited by | Tom Patterson |
Production company |
Antidote Films Afterhours Productions Ghost Robot Off Hollywood Pictures (in association) |
Distributed by |
Cinema Purgatorio (theatrical) Breaking Glass Pictures (2011, DVD) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Cropsey is a 2009 American documentary film written and directed by Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio. The film initially begins as an examination of "Cropsey", a boogeyman-like figure from New York City urban legend, before segueing into the story of Andre Rand, a convicted child kidnapper from Staten Island.
In 2009, Cropsey premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, where programmer David Kwok stated; “the eeriness of the mystery pulsates through the film as they journey into the underbelly… as more information and clues unravel, Zeman and Brancaccio become more immersed in shocking surprises and revelations. The reality they uncover in this uniquely hair-raising documentary is more terrifying than any urban legend.”[1]
Production
Upon shooting their research of the origins of the missing kids’ stories, Zeman and Brancaccio realized that the truth did not dwindle into something concrete; instead, it expanded into something larger and convoluted, becoming an in depth investigation of five missing children’s stories. The objective was to bring the distinct elements into one overarching narrative: the oral tradition of urban legends; the mystery of the missing children; the courtroom drama; the search for the roots of Staten Island’s obsession with the case, the community’s need for catharsis.
When filming began, Zeman and Brancaccio sent Andre Rand a letter. After not receiving a response for approximately a month, they decided to visit him directly at Rikers Island. On the day they were going to Rikers, they received the reply. After a series of letter exchanges, Rand agreed to an interview. However, by the time the filmmakers arrived at the prison, Rand had changed his mind and declined.
Andre Rand’s court case did not start until four years after his indictment, which was one of the longest pre-trial motions in New York State history. The culmination of the film alludes to indicting Rand, which became controversial.
Reception
Cropsey received a 90% rating from Rotten Tomatoes.[2] Metacritic gave the film a score of 73 which is considered "generally favorable".[3]
Awards
See also
- The Burning, a 1981 horror film based on the urban legend of Cropsey.
- Madman, a 1982 horror film based on the urban legend of Cropsey.
References
- ↑ David Kwok, Tribeca Film Festival Archived 2010-06-05 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Cropsey (2009)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
- ↑ "Cropsey". Metacritic. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
- ↑ Hammer to Nail Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Indiewire
- ↑ SF Documentary Festival Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Staten Island Film Festival