In Cropsey, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio investigate the disappearances of multiple children on Staten Island during the 80s.
Though most of the film focuses on the real-life kidnappings perpetrated by Andre Rand, it mentions the similarities between the missing children and a popular local myth—the Cropsey legend, which tells of a psychopathic child murderer who sometimes wields an ax, sometimes a knife, and sometimes is described as a supernatural being.
This sounds interesting, but there is never a time where the movie is anything more than an hour-long 70s PBS special.
More time devoted to the legends would have added more of a creep factor, but the legend itself is only a footnote to the criminal investigation.
Overall, Cropsey doesn’t cover enough ground in the disappearances, nor does it give enough information about the legends to make it worth watching.
Cropsey 11:45 p.m. Nov. 14 at Starz FilmCenter



Be the first to comment on this article!