Cropsy

There are many films out there, both fictional and documentary that deal with the subject of serial murderers. CROPSEY is the story of a man far more frightening than Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees because this man is real. The reality of the story of this madman is perhaps only overshadowed by the inhumane treatment of mentally disabled children at the Willowbrook hospital that can be seen in historical footage that the directors Barbara Brancaccio and Joshua Zeman show us. The documentary amps up when children start disappearing in Staten Island. Cropsey is one urban legend that might have more than a grain of truth to it.

Using a classic documentary feel, the directors provide a haunting tale of a man who preys on children with disabilities. It could easily be compared to the depravity of the documentary ALBERT FISH: IN SIN HE FOUND SALVATION. While this film does make the borough of Staten Island seem like a murderer’s paradise at times, at others it shows the warm, caring side of the citizens of the island who want nothing more than to feel safe in their community. The families of the missing and murdered children are the most touching footage in the movie. They just want closure in cases that span decades.

The research put into this film is evident, with every aspect of the Cropsey legend accounted for. The directors do a good job of staying objective, even casting a heavy shadow of doubt as to whether Andre Rand may or may not be the actual killer of all of these children. The film gives a combination of CSI and Law and Order-like information, covering the search for the children, to the trials that Rand was being tried at. Barbara and Joshua show the “city under the city” of Staten Island as the lines between fact and folklore start to blend. Credit should be given to the directors for finding and interviewing so many people involved in the original investigations. Their ability to actually communicate with Rand through official documents provided by his legal defense is also a testament to the tenacity of their own investigation.

The film is hands down creepy, mostly because the events happened in the time of television and so many of the recorded findings still exist. Rather than rely on re-enactments like Unsolved Mysteries, the movie puts the events surrounding the Cropsey legend front and center in reality. The directors of Cropsey should be proud to have produced such a well-made documentary that could, in the future, be a cornerstone for child education about talking to or going anywhere with strangers.