The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)

In an abandoned house in Poughkeepsie, New York murder investigators uncover hundreds of tapes showing decades of a serial killer's work.

Director:

John Erick Dowdle

Writers:

Drew Dowdle (story), John Erick Dowdle

Stars:

Stacy Chbosky, Ben Messmer, Samantha Robson

Cast

Credited cast:
Stacy Chbosky	...	Cheryl Dempsey
Ben Messmer	...	Edward Carver
Samantha Robson	...	Samantha
Ivar Brogger	...	Leonard Schway
Lou George	...	Felton Lewis
Amy Lyndon	...	Alice Endrisart
Michael Lawson	...	Simon Alray
Ron Harper	...	Mike Moakes
Kim Kenny	...	Pam Frears
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Iris Bahr	...	Aretha Creely
Scott Beehner	...	Jason Ribling
Kelli Bielema	...	Jane Gerber
Linda Bisesti	...	Sandra Willets
Lisa Black	...	Victoria Dempsey
Marissa Blanchard	...	Girl Scout 1

Storyline

When hundreds of videotapes showing torture, murder and dismemberment are found in an abandoned house, they reveal a serial killer's decade-long reign of terror and become the most disturbing collection of evidence homicide detectives have ever seen.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | videotape | mysterious killer | serial murderer | psychopathic killer | 

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Taglines:

The Terror is Real

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sadistic violence and torture, including terror and graphic descriptions

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot in 15 days.

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Goofs

A police officer claims that a person has to be missing for 24 hours before filing a missing person's report. While this is a common myth and trope in film it is untrue.

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Quotes

Ed: Do you wanna see what the other side of the camera looks like...?

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Crazy Credits

Instead of listing the actors and their respective characters, the credits only have a big "Featuring" section (in alphabetical order) with the names of both the actors and the characters they play.

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Connections

References Saw (2004)

User Reviews

Cheryl Dempsey makes the film worthwhile

This horror flick is unique in the way it leaves a lot to the imagination. Most of the acting is poor, but the story of Cheryl Dempsey makes the movie worthwhile. In fact, her story, could have stood on its own. The character is portrayed well, and it is very hard to forget what happens to her and how she is affected. Because of how devastating her story is, and because a lot is left to the imagination as to how her story progressed, the movie is actually worth watching for horror buffs. If they'd left her story out, most of the movie would be a waste of time. Her story also makes the serial killer in the story much more engrossing, since it gives a kind of unusual psychological depth to his character which is often missing in horror.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 January 2009 (Canada)

Also Known As:

The Poughkeepsie Tapes

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brothers Dowdle Productions, Poughkeepsie Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1