- Cropsey (film)
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Cropsey 
Theatrical Release PosterDirected by Joshua Zeman
Barbara BrancaccioProduced by Joshua Zeman
Barbara Brancaccio
Zachary MortensenWritten by Joshua Zeman Music by Alexander Lasarenko Cinematography Chad Davidson Editing by Tom Patterson Release date(s) June 4, 2009 Running time 84 minutes Country United States Language English Cropsey is a 2009 American investigative-crime horror-documentary film, written and directed by Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio. The film and its title uses the urban legend of "Cropsey", akin to the various incarnations of the Boogeyman, as an introduction to what eventually leads the film to its intended subject: Andre Rand, a convicted child kidnapper from Staten Island, New York.
As Tribeca Film Festival (Cropsey premiered there in 2009) 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]
Contents
Cropsey Origins
The name “Cropsey”,[2] has nebulous origins. According to folklore experts,[who?] there were several urban legends in the late 19th century that dealt with a person named Cropsey.
Contact with Andre Rand
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, when the filmmakers arrived to the prison, Rand had changed his mind and declined the interview.
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 large and convoluted. What began as Jennifer’s missing story became 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.
Andre Rand’s court case did not start for four years after his indictment – one of the longest pre-trial motions in New York State history. The culmination of the film alludes to indicting Rand, which became controversial.[citation needed]
Community’s Reaction
There were conflicting reactions from the close-knit Staten Island community during the making of Cropsey.[citation needed]
Reception
Cropsey received an 87% rating from RottenTomatoes. [3] Metacritic gave the film a score of 73 which is considered "generally favorable".[4]
Awards
- Hammer to Nail: 2009 Tribeca’s Grand Jury Prize.[5]
- IndieWIRE’s 2009 Best Undistributed Film list, Annual Critics Survey.[6]
- Closing Night Film, SF Documentary Festival.[7]
- Audience Award Winner, Staten Island Film Festival[8]
References
- ^ David Kwok, Tribeca Film Festival
- ^ Possible Origins of Cropsey from Official Website
- ^ "Cropsey (2009)". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cropsey/. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
- ^ "Cropsey". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/movie/cropsey. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
- ^ Hammer to Nail
- ^ Indiewire
- ^ SF Documentary Festival
- ^ Staten Island Film Festival
External links
Categories:- 2009 films
- American films
- English-language films
- 2000s documentary films
- True crime films
- Documentary films about crimes
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