The episode of Wtf Really Happened to This Horror Movie covering The Burning was Written and Narrated by Andrew Hatfield, Edited by Mike Conway, Produced by Lance Vlcek and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.
Urban legends are mostly just that, the stuff of legends. They can inspire some people to do horrifying things and create urban legends of their own. Very often, these stories get the movie or show treatment whether they hue close to anything factual or not. One of the most famous examples of this urban legend which has a serial killer acting out some of the most famously told tales. Often movies that use the “inspired by” tag don’t have much to do with their source material like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre being merely inspired by Ed Gein. What happens when a legend inspires a movie and then the real story comes out years later?...
Urban legends are mostly just that, the stuff of legends. They can inspire some people to do horrifying things and create urban legends of their own. Very often, these stories get the movie or show treatment whether they hue close to anything factual or not. One of the most famous examples of this urban legend which has a serial killer acting out some of the most famously told tales. Often movies that use the “inspired by” tag don’t have much to do with their source material like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre being merely inspired by Ed Gein. What happens when a legend inspires a movie and then the real story comes out years later?...
- 10/17/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Joshua Zeman’s latest feature documentary “Checkpoint Zoo,” an inspiring story that unfolds in a war-torn part of the world, has wrapped principal photography. The film tells the story of the daring rescue of over 5,000 animals that were trapped in a wildlife park behind enemy lines during the early days of the Russian-Ukrainian War.
“Checkpoint Zoo” was produced by Zeman and Zach Mortensen for Ghost Robot, with Ian Davies and Torquil Jones for Noah Media Group, which is also financing the project. UTA Independent Film Group has signed on to lead worldwide sales of the picture.
In the early days of the war, a beloved animal refuge known as Feldman Ecopark, located in Ukraine’s second largest city, was in a precarious position. On one side of the park was the invading Russian army; on the other sat the Ukrainian front line. With thousands of animals trapped with little food and water,...
“Checkpoint Zoo” was produced by Zeman and Zach Mortensen for Ghost Robot, with Ian Davies and Torquil Jones for Noah Media Group, which is also financing the project. UTA Independent Film Group has signed on to lead worldwide sales of the picture.
In the early days of the war, a beloved animal refuge known as Feldman Ecopark, located in Ukraine’s second largest city, was in a precarious position. On one side of the park was the invading Russian army; on the other sat the Ukrainian front line. With thousands of animals trapped with little food and water,...
- 7/18/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: UTA has signed director, producer and writer Joshua Zeman — a leading voice in the true-crime storytelling space — with plans to find him new opportunities in documentary filmmaking, narrative directing, digital content and more.
Zeman is best known for his critically acclaimed debut feature Cropsey, as well as such series as The Killing Season (A+E Networks), Murder Mountain (Netflix) and The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (Netflix).
Co-directed with Barbara Brancaccio, Cropsey watches as the filmmakers delve into the mystery surrounding five missing children and the real-life boogeyman linked to their disappearances. The Killing Season sees Zeman and Rachel Mills examine unsolved serial killer cases, while Murder Mountain looks at crime surrounding the marijuana industry in Humboldt County, California. And then, there’s The Sons of Sam, which looks at journalist Maury Terry’s conspiratorial thinking surrounding the infamous Son of Sam murders.
Zeman most recently departed from...
Zeman is best known for his critically acclaimed debut feature Cropsey, as well as such series as The Killing Season (A+E Networks), Murder Mountain (Netflix) and The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (Netflix).
Co-directed with Barbara Brancaccio, Cropsey watches as the filmmakers delve into the mystery surrounding five missing children and the real-life boogeyman linked to their disappearances. The Killing Season sees Zeman and Rachel Mills examine unsolved serial killer cases, while Murder Mountain looks at crime surrounding the marijuana industry in Humboldt County, California. And then, there’s The Sons of Sam, which looks at journalist Maury Terry’s conspiratorial thinking surrounding the infamous Son of Sam murders.
Zeman most recently departed from...
- 3/6/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Moviegoers not far removed from the isolating strains of lockdown may find The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52 strikes a chord. Distributor Bleecker Street and director Joshua Zeman hope so as the doc, a shift from the helmer’s true crime roots, opens in 75 theaters.
Digital release is set for July 16.
The film is a cinematic quest for the 52 Hertz Whale, which scientists believe has spent its entire life in solitude calling out at a frequency that is different from any other of its species. The whale, discovered in 1989, became a global sensation over the past three decades — including songs about it by British indie rock band Amber Run and K-pop’s BTS.
Zeman, who said he had childhood ambitions to be a marine biologist and loved Jacques Cousteau, was floored by the story and spent ten years trying to make the...
Digital release is set for July 16.
The film is a cinematic quest for the 52 Hertz Whale, which scientists believe has spent its entire life in solitude calling out at a frequency that is different from any other of its species. The whale, discovered in 1989, became a global sensation over the past three decades — including songs about it by British indie rock band Amber Run and K-pop’s BTS.
Zeman, who said he had childhood ambitions to be a marine biologist and loved Jacques Cousteau, was floored by the story and spent ten years trying to make the...
- 7/9/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix‘s new docuseries The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness aims to restructure a deeply ingrained story. New York City’s most notorious serial murderer wasn’t a serial murderer after all. If David Berkowitz was part of a team of street level satanic power brokers, the entire story is a false narrative.
The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness is an impressive entry in the true crime documentary premiere run at Netflix. It focuses on the work of journalist Maury Terry, whose investigation into the Son of Sam case was criminally sidelined. Terry was convinced that convicted lone serial killer David Berkowitz was part of “a highly motivated and well-organized cult group whose various criminal enterprises included the .44 homicide.”
Terry’s 1987 book The Ultimate Evil: An Investigation of America’s Most Dangerous Satanic Cult, is a must read. But it got lost in the Satanic Panic,...
The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness is an impressive entry in the true crime documentary premiere run at Netflix. It focuses on the work of journalist Maury Terry, whose investigation into the Son of Sam case was criminally sidelined. Terry was convinced that convicted lone serial killer David Berkowitz was part of “a highly motivated and well-organized cult group whose various criminal enterprises included the .44 homicide.”
Terry’s 1987 book The Ultimate Evil: An Investigation of America’s Most Dangerous Satanic Cult, is a must read. But it got lost in the Satanic Panic,...
- 5/5/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
The new Netflix true-crime docuseries The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness draws heavily from the works of investigative journalist Maury Terry. Terry didn't believe that convicted serial killer David Berkowitz, the notorious "Son of Sam" killer, acted alone, despite the official narrative given to the press. From 1976 to 1977, a shooter - or shooters - injured seven and killed six people in New York City with a .44 caliber gun. The docuseries presents the story through Terry's own words, as he spent his career going down multiple rabbit holes to connect Berkowitz to a widespread satanic cult. But who's the narrator of the story? The documentary's narrator isn't exactly a neutral and omnipresent one. It's Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti as Terry, and he's drawing from an adapted version of Terry's book, The Ultimate Evil, as well as other records.
At the beginning of the docuseries, director Joshua Zeman explains that...
At the beginning of the docuseries, director Joshua Zeman explains that...
- 5/4/2021
- by Stacey Nguyen
- Popsugar.com
“There’s obviously enough doubt to suggest that it’s worth looking into,” Zeman says
Netflix’s “Sons of Sam: a Descent Into Darkness” docuseries begins streaming May 5, and it tells the story of true crime reporter Maury Terry’s crusade to prove to the world that convicted serial killer David “Son of Sam” Berkowitz didn’t act alone in killing six people in the summer of 1977.
“Sons of Sam” director Joshua Zeman told TheWrap he believes there’s evidence that Berkowitz wasn’t the only killer responsible for the New York City slayings in the summer of 1977.
“There’s a preponderance of evidence to suggest that Berkowitz didn’t act alone,” Zeman said, adding that he knows the names of some potential suspects but is keeping them anonymous.
“I have been told the names of those individuals, some of whom are still alive. So, you know, that remains to be seen…...
Netflix’s “Sons of Sam: a Descent Into Darkness” docuseries begins streaming May 5, and it tells the story of true crime reporter Maury Terry’s crusade to prove to the world that convicted serial killer David “Son of Sam” Berkowitz didn’t act alone in killing six people in the summer of 1977.
“Sons of Sam” director Joshua Zeman told TheWrap he believes there’s evidence that Berkowitz wasn’t the only killer responsible for the New York City slayings in the summer of 1977.
“There’s a preponderance of evidence to suggest that Berkowitz didn’t act alone,” Zeman said, adding that he knows the names of some potential suspects but is keeping them anonymous.
“I have been told the names of those individuals, some of whom are still alive. So, you know, that remains to be seen…...
- 5/3/2021
- by Samson Amore
- The Wrap
Journalist Maury Terry was already neck-deep into trying to prove that David Berkowitz, a.k.a. the Son of Sam, did not act alone in his New York City killing spree when he received a letter from the serial killer in 1981, postmarked Attica Correctional Facility. “I am guilty of these crimes,” Berkowitz wrote, “But I didn’t do it all.”
Berkowitz went on to tell Terry that he was part of a cult, as the journalist had suspected, and that there was more than one Son of Sam, even naming his neighbor John Carr,...
Berkowitz went on to tell Terry that he was part of a cult, as the journalist had suspected, and that there was more than one Son of Sam, even naming his neighbor John Carr,...
- 4/30/2021
- by Brenna Ehrlich
- Rollingstone.com
Netflix’s next documentary will examine one of the nation’s most infamous murderers via the upcoming “The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness” docuseries. The streaming service released the trailer for the four-part series Wednesday.
The docuseries, which consists of four hour-long episodes, will premiere May 5 on Netflix. Here’s Netflix’s synopsis:
The hunt for the “Son of Sam” captivated the world in the late 1970s, but the story behind one of America’s most notorious serial murderers is all but forgotten — until now. While the arrest and conviction of David Berkowitz brought the nightmare to an end for many New Yorkers, for journalist and “Ultimate Evil” author Maury Terry, the real mystery was just beginning. Terry, convinced Berkowitz had not acted alone, would go on to spend decades attempting to prove that the web of darkness behind the murders went deeper than anyone imagined — and his...
The docuseries, which consists of four hour-long episodes, will premiere May 5 on Netflix. Here’s Netflix’s synopsis:
The hunt for the “Son of Sam” captivated the world in the late 1970s, but the story behind one of America’s most notorious serial murderers is all but forgotten — until now. While the arrest and conviction of David Berkowitz brought the nightmare to an end for many New Yorkers, for journalist and “Ultimate Evil” author Maury Terry, the real mystery was just beginning. Terry, convinced Berkowitz had not acted alone, would go on to spend decades attempting to prove that the web of darkness behind the murders went deeper than anyone imagined — and his...
- 4/8/2021
- by Tyler Hersko
- Indiewire
Netflix has released a new trailer for its upcoming docuseries, The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness, which will premiere May 5th.
Directed by Joshua Zeman, the series revisits the infamous string of murders that shook New York City in the late Seventies but also explores the argument that David Berkowitz wasn’t a lone killer. To that end, the series delves into the work of journalist Maury Terry, who became convinced Berkowitz hadn’t acted alone and spent decades trying to prove it.
In an email to Rolling Stone,...
Directed by Joshua Zeman, the series revisits the infamous string of murders that shook New York City in the late Seventies but also explores the argument that David Berkowitz wasn’t a lone killer. To that end, the series delves into the work of journalist Maury Terry, who became convinced Berkowitz hadn’t acted alone and spent decades trying to prove it.
In an email to Rolling Stone,...
- 4/7/2021
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
While the SXSW Film Festival is kicking off in Austin this week, the Tribeca Film Festival will continue to shine a spotlight on upcoming genre films in April and May, including Joe Begos' Bliss, Ant Timpson's Come to Daddy (starring Elijah Wood and Stephen McHattie), and Something Else (directed by Jeremy Gardner and Christian Stella).
From the Press Release: "New York – March 5, 2019 – The 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by At&T, today unveiled its feature film lineup. Continuing its tradition of elevating exceptional storytelling rooted in today’s global film communities, the 18th annual Festival will showcase debut works from emerging talent and new works from notable filmmakers. The program includes discoveries, comedies, music-centered, political and social films. The 2019 Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 24 - May 5.
The feature program includes 103 films from 124 filmmakers. The films selected in the three competition sections consist of 50% women directed films. The lineup includes 81 World Premieres,...
From the Press Release: "New York – March 5, 2019 – The 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by At&T, today unveiled its feature film lineup. Continuing its tradition of elevating exceptional storytelling rooted in today’s global film communities, the 18th annual Festival will showcase debut works from emerging talent and new works from notable filmmakers. The program includes discoveries, comedies, music-centered, political and social films. The 2019 Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 24 - May 5.
The feature program includes 103 films from 124 filmmakers. The films selected in the three competition sections consist of 50% women directed films. The lineup includes 81 World Premieres,...
- 3/8/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Nestled among thick Redwood trees nearly 300 miles north of San Francisco is one of the most prolific cannabis producing regions in the United States: Humboldt County. Long known for its cultivation of the plant, Humboldt is one-third of the famed “Emerald Triangle” of Northern California (Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity Counties), which together comprise the largest cannabis-producing region in the United States. For decades, the thick cover of trees and seemingly endless rural terrain has made Humboldt an ideal place to covertly grow marijuana. The same conditions make the county an ideal place to disappear.
- 1/9/2019
- by Katie MacBride
- Rollingstone.com
We’ve seen some great horror documentaries in the past few years. In addition to To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story, which we recently released on our own Dread Central Presents label, recent nonfiction successes include The Nightmare, Demon House, Room 237, and Cropsey. But it’s been a while since we’ve seen a documentary […]
The post Take “A Journey Into Iconic 80’s Horror” in Upcoming Doc In Search Of Darkness appeared first on Dread Central.
The post Take “A Journey Into Iconic 80’s Horror” in Upcoming Doc In Search Of Darkness appeared first on Dread Central.
- 9/6/2018
- by Josh Millican
- DreadCentral.com
(Welcome to Now Stream This, a column dedicated to the best movies streaming on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and every other streaming service out there.) The weekend is almost here, which means you’re likely going to be scrolling through streaming services, asking yourself: “What the heck should I watch?” That’s where Now Stream This comes in. Below, […]
The post Now Stream This: ‘Barry Lyndon’, ‘Her’, ‘The Way of the Gun’, ‘Cropsey’, ‘The Rock’, ‘The Brothers Bloom’ and More appeared first on /Film.
The post Now Stream This: ‘Barry Lyndon’, ‘Her’, ‘The Way of the Gun’, ‘Cropsey’, ‘The Rock’, ‘The Brothers Bloom’ and More appeared first on /Film.
- 8/16/2018
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
The remains of five young women were found in the marshes alongside Gilgo Beach, a remote spit of land on the south shore of Long Island, between December 2010 and March 2011. Parts of five more bodies were discovered in the same area the following month. Detectives theorized the murders were the work of a serial killer but turned up no suspects. The cases went cold and stayed cold. Police were accused of obfuscation and corruption, charges that would later prove true.
But there was something else, perhaps, hindering the investigations. The first five victims were identified as escorts, women who advertised their services online. Did police slack on solving the cases because they considered sex workers culpable for their own murders? How do you square a TV crew member, reporting on the search at Gilgo Beach, being overheard to say, “I can’t believe they’re doing all this for a...
But there was something else, perhaps, hindering the investigations. The first five victims were identified as escorts, women who advertised their services online. Did police slack on solving the cases because they considered sex workers culpable for their own murders? How do you square a TV crew member, reporting on the search at Gilgo Beach, being overheard to say, “I can’t believe they’re doing all this for a...
- 11/12/2016
- by Nancy Rommelmann
- Indiewire
"I'm scared to death of that man," says a woman in reaction to a photo. The chilling moment is captured in an exclusive clip from The Killing Season, a new documentary series that premieres on A&E Network with back-to-back episodes Saturday, November 12 at 9:00 p.m. E.S.T. Here's the official verbiage: A&E Network's gritty new docu-series The Killing Season from Executive Producer Alex Gibney follows documentarians, Joshua Zeman (Cropsey) and Rachel Mills as they investigate one of the most bizarre unsolved serial killer cases of our time -- ten dead sex workers discovered on Gilgo Beach, Long Island. Authorities believe these killings are the work of the Long Island Serial Killer, who after five years remains at large. Forging relationships with cyber-sleuths, journalists and victim's...
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- 10/28/2016
- Screen Anarchy
A&E Network has set a November premiere for The Killing Season docuseries, from Oscar-winning executive producer Alex Gibney (Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief). The eight-episode series follows documentarians Joshua Zeman (Cropsey) and Rachel Mills as they investigate one of the most bizarre unsolved serial killer cases of our time – the deaths of ten sex workers discovered on Gilgo Beach, Long Island. Authorities believe these killings are the work of…...
- 9/16/2016
- Deadline TV
On Friday February 27, documentary director Josh Zeman ("Cropsey") and executive director and actor Adrian Grenier ("Entourage," "The Devil Wears Prada") took over Times Square to promote their upcoming research expedition and documentary project "52: The Search for the Loneliest Whale in the World." Scientists and a film crew will soon set out to sea in search of this so-called "Lonely Whale," a rare hybrid known as 52 Hertz, who emits calls at a frequency no other whale can understand. He swims alone, mate-less and friendless, assumed to have spent his entire life in isolation. "We believe 52 is either the first of his kind, the last of his kind, or a completely new hybrid species," said Zeman. Read More: A Tale of a Whale in '52: The Search for The Loneliest Whale" The Lonely Whale team partnered with Pvblic Foundation, who donate digital billboard space for non-profits, to "turn Times Square blue,...
- 3/2/2015
- by Anya Jaremko-Greenwold
- Indiewire
We return with the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes a new trailer for Repentance and Rockabilly Zombie Weekend, details on the Sundance Next Fest Lineup, Eat Men Like Air, Mindless, and much more:
First Rockabilly Zombie Weekend Trailer: “When Becky and Grant arrive at their rockabilly-themed wedding, despite warnings of a West Nile Virus outbreak, things go horribly wrong as the mosquito-spread virus spawns zombies, who begin feeding on the wedding guests as well as the other locals. The two newlyweds have to escape along with their family and friends if they ever want to live to see their honeymoon!
Rockabilly Zombie Weekend is a new feature length horror thriller with a rocking twist on the modern zombie film. It’s currently being released on DVD on July 1st, 2014 through Green Apple Entertainment. The film (as well as other merchandise) can...
First Rockabilly Zombie Weekend Trailer: “When Becky and Grant arrive at their rockabilly-themed wedding, despite warnings of a West Nile Virus outbreak, things go horribly wrong as the mosquito-spread virus spawns zombies, who begin feeding on the wedding guests as well as the other locals. The two newlyweds have to escape along with their family and friends if they ever want to live to see their honeymoon!
Rockabilly Zombie Weekend is a new feature length horror thriller with a rocking twist on the modern zombie film. It’s currently being released on DVD on July 1st, 2014 through Green Apple Entertainment. The film (as well as other merchandise) can...
- 6/29/2014
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Director Josh Zeman's Killer Legends - a documentary exploration of the truth behind a quartet of popular urban legends from the helmer of the acclaimed Cropsey - hits DVD on July 1st and we've got a trio of DVD copies to give away to lucky Twitch readers!Along with producer and co-host Rachel Mills, Zeman here looks into the historical basis for four urban legends: The Candyman, The Babysitter And The Man Upstairs, The Hookman and The Killer Clown. Check out the pair of teasers we released for the film below and email me here for your chance to win a DVD. Remember to include your mailing address!...
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- 6/20/2014
- Screen Anarchy
The documentary Killer Legends will be available on DVD nationwide July 1st from Breaking Glass Pictures, and right now we have your chance to score a copy on us for free. That's right... free. You don't have to do a damn thing other than click for details!
To enter for your chance to win, just send us an email at contests@dreadcentral.com including your Full Name And Mailing Address. We’ll take care of the rest.
This contest will end on at 12:01 Am Pt on June 30th.
Killer Legends follows filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate four timeless legends that continue to haunt the American public. Directed by Zeman, the documentary examines the urban legends of The Candyman, The Killer Clown, The Baby-Sitter and the Man Upstairs, and The Hookman.
The DVD release (Srp $19.99) will also include seven special features on the legendary quartet.
Joshua and Rachel travel to Houston,...
To enter for your chance to win, just send us an email at contests@dreadcentral.com including your Full Name And Mailing Address. We’ll take care of the rest.
This contest will end on at 12:01 Am Pt on June 30th.
Killer Legends follows filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate four timeless legends that continue to haunt the American public. Directed by Zeman, the documentary examines the urban legends of The Candyman, The Killer Clown, The Baby-Sitter and the Man Upstairs, and The Hookman.
The DVD release (Srp $19.99) will also include seven special features on the legendary quartet.
Joshua and Rachel travel to Houston,...
- 6/11/2014
- by Steve Barton
- DreadCentral.com
This year's crop of fictional horror films has been pretty disappointing so far, but maybe the documentary Killer Legends, available on DVD nationwide July 1st from Breaking Glass Pictures, can add some chill to our hot summer months.
Killer Legends follows filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate four timeless legends that continue to haunt the American public. Directed by Zeman, the documentary examines the urban legends of The Candyman, The Killer Clown, The Baby-Sitter and the Man Upstairs, and The Hookman.
The DVD release (Srp $19.99) will also include seven special features on the legendary quartet.
Joshua and Rachel travel to Houston, Texas, where they explore the tainted candy legend parents fear every Halloween. In Columbia, Missouri. they compare The Baby-Sitter and the Man Upstairs legend to the unsolved murder of Janett Christman - a babysitter found murdered in 1950. In Texarkana, Texas, the filmmakers investigate the real-life case...
Killer Legends follows filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate four timeless legends that continue to haunt the American public. Directed by Zeman, the documentary examines the urban legends of The Candyman, The Killer Clown, The Baby-Sitter and the Man Upstairs, and The Hookman.
The DVD release (Srp $19.99) will also include seven special features on the legendary quartet.
Joshua and Rachel travel to Houston, Texas, where they explore the tainted candy legend parents fear every Halloween. In Columbia, Missouri. they compare The Baby-Sitter and the Man Upstairs legend to the unsolved murder of Janett Christman - a babysitter found murdered in 1950. In Texarkana, Texas, the filmmakers investigate the real-life case...
- 6/2/2014
- by Debi Moore
- DreadCentral.com
Stars: Joshua Zeman, Rachel Mills | Written and Directed by Joshua Zeman
Review by Scott Clark of Cinehouse
In 2010 Joshua Zeman’s Cropsey investigated the point where folklore and real life merge. Killer Legends builds on Zeman’s fascination with the true-crime origins of urban legends, exploring how such tales are manufactured and perpetuated.
From the start it’s a far more accomplished piece of investigatory work than Cropsey, the scope and depth of analysis provides genuine insight into what kind of circumstance can queue the inception of contemporary folklore. For such purposes, Zeman picks the most popular urban legends: the hook handed killer on Lover’s Lane, the babysitter and the call from inside the house, the razor blades in the Halloween candy, etc. For each of these popular folk tales Zeman, and his research partner Rachel Mills, strip back the façade to find the real and often-unsettling truth behind the legend.
Review by Scott Clark of Cinehouse
In 2010 Joshua Zeman’s Cropsey investigated the point where folklore and real life merge. Killer Legends builds on Zeman’s fascination with the true-crime origins of urban legends, exploring how such tales are manufactured and perpetuated.
From the start it’s a far more accomplished piece of investigatory work than Cropsey, the scope and depth of analysis provides genuine insight into what kind of circumstance can queue the inception of contemporary folklore. For such purposes, Zeman picks the most popular urban legends: the hook handed killer on Lover’s Lane, the babysitter and the call from inside the house, the razor blades in the Halloween candy, etc. For each of these popular folk tales Zeman, and his research partner Rachel Mills, strip back the façade to find the real and often-unsettling truth behind the legend.
- 5/17/2014
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Attention, New York! Nitehawk Cinema in Brooklyn has been developing its "Signature Series" program for some time, including revisiting the more mainstream ‘70s pornography for "Nitehawk Naughties", which will continue into the summer months.
Now, their "One Nite Only" series will highlight nine upcoming films including artist and music documentaries, re-releases and anniversaries, restorations and classic repertory films.
Tonight at 9:30 P.M. Et, Nitehawk presents a special One Nite Only screening of the new horror documentary Killer Legends in celebration of its upcoming March 16 premiere on the Chiller Network. The event includes a Q&A with filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills moderated by Fangoria’s Sam Zimmerman. If you enjoyed the documentary Cropsey from Zeman and are in or around Brooklyn this evening, Killer Legends looks to explore the true origins of urban legends on a much grander scale than the more intimate, personal exploration in Cropsey.
Killer Legends...
Now, their "One Nite Only" series will highlight nine upcoming films including artist and music documentaries, re-releases and anniversaries, restorations and classic repertory films.
Tonight at 9:30 P.M. Et, Nitehawk presents a special One Nite Only screening of the new horror documentary Killer Legends in celebration of its upcoming March 16 premiere on the Chiller Network. The event includes a Q&A with filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills moderated by Fangoria’s Sam Zimmerman. If you enjoyed the documentary Cropsey from Zeman and are in or around Brooklyn this evening, Killer Legends looks to explore the true origins of urban legends on a much grander scale than the more intimate, personal exploration in Cropsey.
Killer Legends...
- 3/13/2014
- by Drew Tinnin
- DreadCentral.com
Cropsey director Josh Zeman's latest exploration of dark true crime, Killer Legends, will soon be upon us with a sneak peak screening scheduled for Brooklyn's Nitehawk Cinema on March 13th prior to the premiere on Chiller March 16th at 8pm. And to get you into the mood, we've got a second exclusive trailer for you.Killer Legends explores the truth behind a quartet of popular urban legends - The Candyman, The Babysitter And The Man Upstairs, The Hookman and The Killer Clown - with this trailer focusing on the most notorious clown of them all: John Wayne Gacy. Take a look below....
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- 3/12/2014
- Screen Anarchy
Chiller TV will debut its newest special, "Killer Legends," on Sunday, March 16th. It is hosted and directed by Josh Zeman (Cropsey) and explores true crime stories behind popular urban legends. Right now we have another Exclusive clip from the show for you to check out!
The hair-raising two-hour event, which begins at 8 Pm Et, focuses on four timeless urban legends that haunt the psyche of the American public. This horror documentary follows filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate the true crimes that may have spawned these urban legends while exploring how these myths evolved and why we continue to believe.
The documentary probes the following legends:
The Candyman: The film takes viewers to Houston, Texas, to explore the legend of tainted candy that strikes fear in parents every Halloween. Though the legend is prolific, in actuality there is only one documented case of a child dying...
The hair-raising two-hour event, which begins at 8 Pm Et, focuses on four timeless urban legends that haunt the psyche of the American public. This horror documentary follows filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate the true crimes that may have spawned these urban legends while exploring how these myths evolved and why we continue to believe.
The documentary probes the following legends:
The Candyman: The film takes viewers to Houston, Texas, to explore the legend of tainted candy that strikes fear in parents every Halloween. Though the legend is prolific, in actuality there is only one documented case of a child dying...
- 3/7/2014
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Back in 2009 director Josh Zeman created something of a stir with his dark and disturbing documentary Cropsey, a deconstruction and exploration of the real life basis of an urban legend from his home town. And Zeman is back now and mining similar territory with his upcoming Chiller backed follow up Killer Legends.Along with producer and co-host Rachel Mills, Zeman here looks into the historical basis for four urban legends: The Candyman, The Babysitter And The Man Upstairs, The Hookman and The Killer Clown. Want a taste of what's coming? We've got an exclusive Killer Legends trailer for you here. Titled Imitation of Death, this one focuses on the Hookman segment of the film and the so called Moonlight Murders that occurred in Texarkana in...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 3/4/2014
- Screen Anarchy
On Sunday, March 16th, Chiller TV will debut its newest special, "Killer Legends," hosted and directed by Josh Zeman (Cropsey), which explores true crime stories behind popular urban legends. Right now we have an Exclusive clip for you to check out!
The hair-raising two-hour event, which begins at 8 Pm Et, focuses on four timeless urban legends that haunt the psyche of the American public. This horror documentary follows filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate the true crimes that may have spawned these urban legends while exploring how these myths evolved and why we continue to believe.
The documentary probes the following legends:
The Candyman: The film takes viewers to Houston, Texas, to explore the legend of tainted candy that strikes fear in parents every Halloween. Though the legend is prolific, in actuality there is only one documented case of a child dying from tainted candy: 8-year-old Timothy O’Bryan.
The hair-raising two-hour event, which begins at 8 Pm Et, focuses on four timeless urban legends that haunt the psyche of the American public. This horror documentary follows filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate the true crimes that may have spawned these urban legends while exploring how these myths evolved and why we continue to believe.
The documentary probes the following legends:
The Candyman: The film takes viewers to Houston, Texas, to explore the legend of tainted candy that strikes fear in parents every Halloween. Though the legend is prolific, in actuality there is only one documented case of a child dying from tainted candy: 8-year-old Timothy O’Bryan.
- 2/28/2014
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
On Sunday, March 16th, Chiller TV will debut its newest special, "Killer Legends," hosted and directed by Josh Zeman (Cropsey), which explores true crime stories behind popular urban legends.
The hair-raising two-hour event, which begins at 8 Pm Et, focuses on four timeless urban legends that haunt the psyche of the American public. This horror documentary follows filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate the true crimes that may have spawned these urban legends while exploring how these myths evolved and why we continue to believe.
The documentary probes the following legends:
The Candyman: The film takes viewers to Houston, Texas, to explore the legend of tainted candy that strikes fear in parents every Halloween. Though the legend is prolific, in actuality there is only one documented case of a child dying from tainted candy: 8-year-old Timothy O’Bryan. Timothy was poisoned on Halloween by a real-life miscreant who...
The hair-raising two-hour event, which begins at 8 Pm Et, focuses on four timeless urban legends that haunt the psyche of the American public. This horror documentary follows filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate the true crimes that may have spawned these urban legends while exploring how these myths evolved and why we continue to believe.
The documentary probes the following legends:
The Candyman: The film takes viewers to Houston, Texas, to explore the legend of tainted candy that strikes fear in parents every Halloween. Though the legend is prolific, in actuality there is only one documented case of a child dying from tainted candy: 8-year-old Timothy O’Bryan. Timothy was poisoned on Halloween by a real-life miscreant who...
- 2/11/2014
- by Debi Moore
- DreadCentral.com
Today's entry in our ongoing series on the spookier side of urban exploration is something of a special case, as this location comes with its own very well-known haunted backstory – one which became the stuff of nightmares for kids and adults alike. The 300-acre Farm Colony on Staten Island is one of the largest abandoned locations in New York, and has multiple layers of creepy history, each more disturbing than the next. A recent photo tour of the site, covered in the blog Atlas Obscura, revealed that the body of an unknown girl was once discovered beneath one of the decrepit colony buildings... and that she might not be the only one. The Colony's history goes back to the late 17th century, when it was part of the town of Castleton. The land was acquired by the government a century later to build housing for the poor, who were an...
- 9/11/2013
- by Gregory Burkart
- FEARnet
It seems like American Horror Story: Asylum’s thirteen episodes absolutely flew by. The season was wild and creepy and rich and satisfying, and an absolutely excellent follow up to the exquisite Season 1, American Horror Story. As I reported previously, I was lucky enough to attend a screening of the Asylum finale before it aired, followed by a Q&A session with the showrunner, Ryan Murphy. He was full of information about the just-completed season, the season to come, and the series in general.
Although I dashed out most of the Season 3 information immediately for your consumption last month, I had to hold back on the finale talk and anything that might have been associated with it; to be safe I waited on most all of the Season 2 discussion other than what was included in my season finale review.
Before we get to Mr. Murphy’s thoughts, here’s a quick reminder about the finale,...
Although I dashed out most of the Season 3 information immediately for your consumption last month, I had to hold back on the finale talk and anything that might have been associated with it; to be safe I waited on most all of the Season 2 discussion other than what was included in my season finale review.
Before we get to Mr. Murphy’s thoughts, here’s a quick reminder about the finale,...
- 2/2/2013
- by Erin Willard
- ScifiMafia
The second film in the collaboration between Dread Central and Constellation.tv has been announced: This Friday, March 16, at 10pm Edt, DC's own (me!) Doctor Gash will be hosting an online screening of the chilling documentary Cropsey.
The things Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio reveal in this film are downright scary.
After hosting a successful screening of Absentia on Constellation.tv, Gash returns with his unique hosting style to bring you the story of a living, breathing nightmare. Follow this link to get your ticket to Cropsey! Muh-wa-ha-ha!
Synopsis
Growing up on Staten Island, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio had often heard the legend of Cropsey. For the kids in their neighborhood, Cropsey was the escaped mental patient who lived in the old abandoned Willowbrook Mental Institution, who would come out late at night and snatch children off the streets. Sometimes Cropsey had a hook for a hand, other...
The things Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio reveal in this film are downright scary.
After hosting a successful screening of Absentia on Constellation.tv, Gash returns with his unique hosting style to bring you the story of a living, breathing nightmare. Follow this link to get your ticket to Cropsey! Muh-wa-ha-ha!
Synopsis
Growing up on Staten Island, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio had often heard the legend of Cropsey. For the kids in their neighborhood, Cropsey was the escaped mental patient who lived in the old abandoned Willowbrook Mental Institution, who would come out late at night and snatch children off the streets. Sometimes Cropsey had a hook for a hand, other...
- 3/12/2012
- by Doctor Gash
- DreadCentral.com
You know we're always looking out for you…trying to find ways to make that horror dollar stretch just a little further. We all know how it is. So read on for your chance to see the creepy documentary Cropsey, hosted by the directors, on Constellation.tv this Sunday.
Okay, here are the deets: This Sunday, March 11th, at 8Pm Edt (I know, I know - just DVR "The Walking Dead") directors Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio will host a live online screening of their horrific documentary film Cropsey on Constellation.tv. And as promised, here's your chance to attend the show for Free! We've got 10 tickets to give away. Just send an E-mail Here with "Show Me Cropsey" in the body of the letter, and if you're among the first 10, you'll be checking out this show on the house!
About Cropsey
Growing up on Staten Island, filmmakers Joshua Zeman...
Okay, here are the deets: This Sunday, March 11th, at 8Pm Edt (I know, I know - just DVR "The Walking Dead") directors Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio will host a live online screening of their horrific documentary film Cropsey on Constellation.tv. And as promised, here's your chance to attend the show for Free! We've got 10 tickets to give away. Just send an E-mail Here with "Show Me Cropsey" in the body of the letter, and if you're among the first 10, you'll be checking out this show on the house!
About Cropsey
Growing up on Staten Island, filmmakers Joshua Zeman...
- 3/9/2012
- by Doctor Gash
- DreadCentral.com
Nothing is scarier than stuff that really happened, and in their creepy documentary Cropsey, Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio investigate this Long Island legend used to scare the bejesus out of children in hopes of making them listen to their parents. Now they have more to share.
The directorial duo will be hosting a screening of Cropsey on Constellation.tv next Sunday night, March 11, at 8pm Est. Zeman and Brancaccio will be giving an introduction to the film via webcam and will be available to chat during the film before giving a post-screening Q&A. For more on the award-winning 2009 film, check out the Cropsey website , follow Cropsey on Twitter (@cropseylegend) and check out the Cropsey Facebook page.
Synopsis
Growing up on Staten Island, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio had often heard the legend of Cropsey. For the kids in their neighborhood, Cropsey was the escaped mental patient who...
The directorial duo will be hosting a screening of Cropsey on Constellation.tv next Sunday night, March 11, at 8pm Est. Zeman and Brancaccio will be giving an introduction to the film via webcam and will be available to chat during the film before giving a post-screening Q&A. For more on the award-winning 2009 film, check out the Cropsey website , follow Cropsey on Twitter (@cropseylegend) and check out the Cropsey Facebook page.
Synopsis
Growing up on Staten Island, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio had often heard the legend of Cropsey. For the kids in their neighborhood, Cropsey was the escaped mental patient who...
- 3/5/2012
- by Doctor Gash
- DreadCentral.com
Each week within this column we strive to pair the latest in theatrical releases to worthwhile titles currently streaming on Netflix Instant Watch. This week we offer alternatives to Being Flynn, The Snowtown Murders, and Tim & Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie.
This Friday theaters will be filled with pairs of men, from a couple of kooky comedians, to an estranged father-son team, and a duo of deadly Aussies. But if these new releases aren’t enough to satisfy your craving for chills, laughs and heartwarming moments, we’ve got you covered with some of the best selections Now Streaming.
Based on Nick Flynn’s poignant memoir, this drama centers on his time volunteering at a homeless shelter, and how it led to an unexpected reunion with his estranged father. Paul Dano and Robert De Niro co-star; Paul Weitz directs.
Want more memoir-based dramas?
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) Dito Montiel...
This Friday theaters will be filled with pairs of men, from a couple of kooky comedians, to an estranged father-son team, and a duo of deadly Aussies. But if these new releases aren’t enough to satisfy your craving for chills, laughs and heartwarming moments, we’ve got you covered with some of the best selections Now Streaming.
Based on Nick Flynn’s poignant memoir, this drama centers on his time volunteering at a homeless shelter, and how it led to an unexpected reunion with his estranged father. Paul Dano and Robert De Niro co-star; Paul Weitz directs.
Want more memoir-based dramas?
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) Dito Montiel...
- 3/1/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
#08. The Best Man for the Job - Joshua Zeman Indie producer stalwart (The Station Agent, Mysterious Skin) Joshua Zeman made his directing debut in 2009 with the docu Cropsey (here's our interview with Zeman) and it now appears that he has the directing bug. Earlier in the year he financed and filmed The Best Man for the Job starring Two Gates of Sleep's David Call. I'm not in the habit of predicting Short Film selections for the festival, but this would be a no-brainer inclusion. Here's the short's Kickstarter page which includes a video intro from the filmmaker. Gist: When a hostage negotiation turns personal, a cop with a secret is forced to make a choice between his partner and the woman he loves. (IMDb Link) ...
- 11/7/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
Each week within this column we strive to pair the latest in theatrical releases to the worthwhile titles now streaming on Netflix Instant Watch. This week we look at alternatives to Footloose, The Skin I Live In and Texas Killing Fields .
This weekend music , murder and madness collide in theaters, where small-town teens discover the joys of choreography, a devastated widower delves into madness, and Texan detectives track a sadistic killer. But if these features won’t sate your cravings for badass dance moves, Spanish flavored drama, and true to life crime tales, we got you covered with a list of hot titles that are currently available online.
A town where dancing is illegal is turned upside down by a teen-aged rebel (Kenny Wormald) with the deep desire to cut loose…footloose. Craig Brewer, the subversive director behind Hustle & Flow and Black Snake Moan, helms this sassy remake of the...
This weekend music , murder and madness collide in theaters, where small-town teens discover the joys of choreography, a devastated widower delves into madness, and Texan detectives track a sadistic killer. But if these features won’t sate your cravings for badass dance moves, Spanish flavored drama, and true to life crime tales, we got you covered with a list of hot titles that are currently available online.
A town where dancing is illegal is turned upside down by a teen-aged rebel (Kenny Wormald) with the deep desire to cut loose…footloose. Craig Brewer, the subversive director behind Hustle & Flow and Black Snake Moan, helms this sassy remake of the...
- 10/13/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Directed by: Joshua Zeman, Barbara Brancaccio
Produced by: Joshua Zeman, Barbara Brancaccio, Zachary Mortensen
Written by: Joshua Zeman
Fear can do many things. It can turn the brave into weaklings, the pious into unbelievers. And, in the documentary Cropsey, we witness how fear turned a homeless man in to an urban legend.
In the 1960's Staton Island was a dumping ground for the rest of New York City, despite a growing community. Not just of garbage, but human refuse as well. The island was home to a TB ward and the infamous Willowbrook Mental State School, where the residents lived in horrid conditions (Geraldo broke the story, which kickstarted his career). After the "school" was closed, residents in the surrounding neighborhoods suspected some patients, unwilling to leave the only home they knew, lived within the web of tunnels under Willowbrook. From this, the tale of Cropsey was born.
Filmmakers Brancaccio...
Produced by: Joshua Zeman, Barbara Brancaccio, Zachary Mortensen
Written by: Joshua Zeman
Fear can do many things. It can turn the brave into weaklings, the pious into unbelievers. And, in the documentary Cropsey, we witness how fear turned a homeless man in to an urban legend.
In the 1960's Staton Island was a dumping ground for the rest of New York City, despite a growing community. Not just of garbage, but human refuse as well. The island was home to a TB ward and the infamous Willowbrook Mental State School, where the residents lived in horrid conditions (Geraldo broke the story, which kickstarted his career). After the "school" was closed, residents in the surrounding neighborhoods suspected some patients, unwilling to leave the only home they knew, lived within the web of tunnels under Willowbrook. From this, the tale of Cropsey was born.
Filmmakers Brancaccio...
- 8/14/2011
- by Chris McMillan
- Planet Fury
Fantaspoa 2011, billed as “the biggest fantastic film festival in Latin America”, is gearing up down in Brazil, with a whopping 150 films in its line-up, including 55 short films and 95 feature films. Director Rodrigo Aragao’s “The Night of the ChupaCabras” will open the festival, which will also feature the world premiere of Kapel Furman’s “Pólvora Negra (Black Gunpowder)”. And for you International horror fiends, Italian maestro of the horrific, Lamberto Bava will be honored with the festival’s Career Achievement Award. The Fest will run from July 2nd through July 17th, and you can get more details and ticketing info at the festival’s Official Site. The festival is separated into six different sections, including: Documentaries: 6 titles — Cropsey (Joshua Zeman, Barbara Brancaccio), Made in Serbia (Mladen Djordjevic) and The Man Who Saw Frankenstein Cry (Ángel Agudo). Action Films: 6 titles — Boy Wonder (Michael Morrissey), Mandrill (Ernesto Díaz Espinoza), Sinners & Saints (William Kaufman...
- 6/26/2011
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
Cropsey is a Staten Island horror documentary from filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio. The story is about an escaped patient from the Willowbrook State School mental institution who kidnapped children.
This documentary is as creepy as I’ve seen because most just really bore me. As locals are interviewed they share different stories and myths about the urban legend that has become Cropsey. As the two filmmakers investigate further they get deeper into the story which goes from the urban areas to rural parts all the way to the courtroom. Make no mistake, this is real!
The man himself doesn’t cooperate at all and when he finally does, it’s just a waste of time for our two filmmakers. But why would this guy do this to these two? Is he hiding something because he claims he’s innocent. Who knows for sure?
Even Geraldo Rivera got on the case way back!
This documentary is as creepy as I’ve seen because most just really bore me. As locals are interviewed they share different stories and myths about the urban legend that has become Cropsey. As the two filmmakers investigate further they get deeper into the story which goes from the urban areas to rural parts all the way to the courtroom. Make no mistake, this is real!
The man himself doesn’t cooperate at all and when he finally does, it’s just a waste of time for our two filmmakers. But why would this guy do this to these two? Is he hiding something because he claims he’s innocent. Who knows for sure?
Even Geraldo Rivera got on the case way back!
- 5/17/2011
- by brians
- GeekTyrant
2010 - 84 mins. - Not Rated
D: Barbara Brancaccio, Joshua Zemna
Documentary detailing Brancaccioa and Zemna relating how the urban legend of Cropsey, a serial killer with either a hook or an axe or a knife that murdered young children, and how that urban legend came to be a terrifying reality as children disappeared over the years on Staten Island and how Andre Rand figured as a modern day Boogeyman.
Arresting documentary filled with many powerful vignettes. Scenes showing the families of the disappeared are heartbreaking. Scenes showing the determination of the police force strike a chord. Scenes showing Andre Rang make you believe he could possibly be a real life Boogeyman. Whatever emotions this document tries to convey through it's use of archival footage or interviews, it manages to succeed at. Only problem, the filmmakers involve themselves in the beginning of this documentary in their relating of the Cropsey urban...
D: Barbara Brancaccio, Joshua Zemna
Documentary detailing Brancaccioa and Zemna relating how the urban legend of Cropsey, a serial killer with either a hook or an axe or a knife that murdered young children, and how that urban legend came to be a terrifying reality as children disappeared over the years on Staten Island and how Andre Rand figured as a modern day Boogeyman.
Arresting documentary filled with many powerful vignettes. Scenes showing the families of the disappeared are heartbreaking. Scenes showing the determination of the police force strike a chord. Scenes showing Andre Rang make you believe he could possibly be a real life Boogeyman. Whatever emotions this document tries to convey through it's use of archival footage or interviews, it manages to succeed at. Only problem, the filmmakers involve themselves in the beginning of this documentary in their relating of the Cropsey urban...
- 5/10/2011
- by Big Daddy aka Brandon Sites
- Big Daddy Horror Reviews - Interviews
*full disclosure: a screener of this film was provided by Breaking Glass Pictures.
Directors: Joshua Zeman, and Barbara Brancaccio.
Writer: Joshua Zeman.
A child killer is on the loose in Breaking Glass Picture's latest release, Cropsey. Two native Staten islanders return to their birth place, where tales of Cropsey, or the boogeyman haunted the local Willowbrook State School for the mentally challenged. A mythical figure, Cropsey soon became a real man, known as Andre Rand. Shot in documentary style, Cropsey paints a telling picture of devils living in our own backyards.
Several children would disappear from Staten Island between 1972 to 1987. Soon, the authorities needed a scapegoat and their attention would focus on ex-Willowbrook employee Andre Rand. Drooling and looking confused, Rand looks and acts the role of child killer throughout the film, but the evidence does not make his guilt so straight forward. However, Rand was always in the wrong place at the wrong time,...
Directors: Joshua Zeman, and Barbara Brancaccio.
Writer: Joshua Zeman.
A child killer is on the loose in Breaking Glass Picture's latest release, Cropsey. Two native Staten islanders return to their birth place, where tales of Cropsey, or the boogeyman haunted the local Willowbrook State School for the mentally challenged. A mythical figure, Cropsey soon became a real man, known as Andre Rand. Shot in documentary style, Cropsey paints a telling picture of devils living in our own backyards.
Several children would disappear from Staten Island between 1972 to 1987. Soon, the authorities needed a scapegoat and their attention would focus on ex-Willowbrook employee Andre Rand. Drooling and looking confused, Rand looks and acts the role of child killer throughout the film, but the evidence does not make his guilt so straight forward. However, Rand was always in the wrong place at the wrong time,...
- 5/8/2011
- by Remove28DaysLaterAnalysisThis@gmail.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
My introduction to writer/director Ben Rock came when I interviewed him for his 2009 highly-underrated flick Alien Raiders, which took themes from Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Thing and combined them with a little bit of “24” for good measure (hard not to when the film’s star is Carlos Bernard). Last year I had the opportunity to experience Rock’s work in the realm of live theatre with his twisted play Ba’al and quickly realized he’s someone who has an interesting perspective when it comes to genre-related projects.
I recently caught up with Rock, who's been busy working on content for a recent big-name video game release, to find out what his top five independent horror films are. Check out his favorites below!
1. Midnight Son
Scott Leberecht's debut feature about a young man turning into something he doesn't want to understand brings me back to...
I recently caught up with Rock, who's been busy working on content for a recent big-name video game release, to find out what his top five independent horror films are. Check out his favorites below!
1. Midnight Son
Scott Leberecht's debut feature about a young man turning into something he doesn't want to understand brings me back to...
- 3/18/2011
- by thehorrorchick
- DreadCentral.com
Critically-Acclaimed Horror Documentary ‘Cropsey’ Coming to DVD in May
From the Press Release:
February 24, 2011 – Philadelphia, Pa — Breaking Glass Pictures has announced the May 10 DVD release of Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio’s documentary “Cropsey,” which tells the real-life horror story of convicted child murderer Andre Rand. The critically-acclaimed film, which has played at major film festivals and is in the midst of a nationwide screening tour, will be released under Breaking Glass’ Vicious Circle Films label.
Growing up on Staten Island, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio had often heard the legend of Cropsey. For the kids in their neighborhood, Cropsey was the escaped mental patient who lived in the old, abandoned Willowbrook Mental Institution and would come out at night to snatch children off the streets. Later, as teenagers, the filmmakers assumed Cropsey was just an urban legend: a cautionary tale used to keep them out of those abandoned buildings.
From the Press Release:
February 24, 2011 – Philadelphia, Pa — Breaking Glass Pictures has announced the May 10 DVD release of Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio’s documentary “Cropsey,” which tells the real-life horror story of convicted child murderer Andre Rand. The critically-acclaimed film, which has played at major film festivals and is in the midst of a nationwide screening tour, will be released under Breaking Glass’ Vicious Circle Films label.
Growing up on Staten Island, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio had often heard the legend of Cropsey. For the kids in their neighborhood, Cropsey was the escaped mental patient who lived in the old, abandoned Willowbrook Mental Institution and would come out at night to snatch children off the streets. Later, as teenagers, the filmmakers assumed Cropsey was just an urban legend: a cautionary tale used to keep them out of those abandoned buildings.
- 3/4/2011
- by brians
- GeekTyrant
Though many would not necessarily expect a documentary to be as scary as a fictional film that has added sound effects, dramatic lighting, and blood and gore, many people would agree that Cropsey is not your typical documentary. Telling the story of two filmmakers investigating the real-life disappearance of five young children in Staten Island, Cropsey shows us that dark secrets can lie under the surface of a seemingly “normal” town. The film is not only a fascinating documentary, but it is one of my top ten favorite horror films of 2010. Breaking Glass Pictures has announced the May 10 DVD release of Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio’s documentary Cropsey. Read on for more details on the DVD release.
For those not wanting to wait till the May 10 DVD release, Cropsey can currently be seen instantly over Netflix and Amazon (look below this post to easily add it). Special features on...
For those not wanting to wait till the May 10 DVD release, Cropsey can currently be seen instantly over Netflix and Amazon (look below this post to easily add it). Special features on...
- 3/2/2011
- by Michael Haffner
- Destroy the Brain
There's a new horror documentary on its way called Cropsey and the good folks over at Breaking Glass Pictures have given us our first look. Readon below and watch the cool trailer at the bottom. From the Press Release: February 24, 2011 - Philadelphia, Pa - Breaking Glass Pictures has announced the May 10 DVD release of Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio's documentary "Cropsey," which tells the real-life horror story of convicted child murderer Andre Rand. The critically-acclaimed film, which has played at major film festivals and is in the midst of a nationwide screening tour, will be released under Breaking Glass' Vicious Circle Films label. Now as adults Joshua and Barbara have returned to Staten Island to create "Cropsey," a feature documentary that delves into the mystery behind Jennifer and four additional missing children. The film also investigates Andre Rand, the real-life boogeyman linked to their disappearances. Embarking on a...
- 2/26/2011
- by brians
- GeekTyrant
We haven't made an entry into our Underappreciated Gems series in quite some time, and we've had a lot of requests for more coverage of Netflix Instant, so I thought we'd combine the two and come up with a new round of Underappreciated Gems currently available on Netflix Instant.
The criteria for an Underappreciated Gem remains as it always does: A movie that didn't make at least $10 million at the box office. I doubt many of these films, from the last three years, even crossed the $2 million mark. But that doesn't make them any less worthy.
Links go to the Netflix page.
8: The Mormon Proposition: 8: The Mormon Proposition is a stirring, tragically depressing documentary about the Mormon Church's massive efforts to support and pass California's Proposition 8 ballot initiative (also called the California Marriage Protection Act), which in 2008 redefined marriage in the state of California as being only between a man and a woman,...
The criteria for an Underappreciated Gem remains as it always does: A movie that didn't make at least $10 million at the box office. I doubt many of these films, from the last three years, even crossed the $2 million mark. But that doesn't make them any less worthy.
Links go to the Netflix page.
8: The Mormon Proposition: 8: The Mormon Proposition is a stirring, tragically depressing documentary about the Mormon Church's massive efforts to support and pass California's Proposition 8 ballot initiative (also called the California Marriage Protection Act), which in 2008 redefined marriage in the state of California as being only between a man and a woman,...
- 1/10/2011
- by Dustin Rowles
It was a year where documentary blurred the line and smashed the U.S. government's policies on everything like a terrible toddler tempestuously trouncing a trainset. Most of these films are actually acts of fiction, and a few are Warholian examples of installation art. There were plenty of genuine marvels that didn't even make the list: Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, which actually pulled off what Sofia Coppola thought she was doing in Somewhere; the madcapped mashup of Intervention and "So You Think You Can Dance" and Jerry Springer that was The Wild Wonderful Whites of West Virginia; the delighfully delusional serious mockumentary stylings of Blood Into Wine about Tool/Puscifer/A Perfect Circle frontman Maynard James Keenan's quest to bottle fine wines. Not to mention smaller and important efforts like Barbershop Punk, which takes on net neutrality, or the fantastic Lemmy, which will get a release in this coming year.
- 1/3/2011
- by Dustin Rowles
This Halloween, Investigation Discovery plans on scaring the bejesus out of you with creepy, chilling and scary real-life programming, anchored by the world premiere of American Occult, a three-part mini-series that explores some of the most haunting subcultures in America. "Occult" takes you inside the evil worlds of self-professed vampires, cannibals and Satanists, each episode reveals the truth behind these ritual killers. "American Occult" premieres on Saturday, October 30 from 8-11 Pm Et on Investigation Discovery. But first, kicking off ID.s theme weekend, is the return of "Cropsey" (Friday, October 29 from 8-10 Pm), a frightening documentary by filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio that seeks to solve one of New Yorks. most disturbing unsolved mysteries of a...
- 10/12/2010
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
Directors: Barbara Brancaccio, Joshua Zeman Writer: Joshua Zeman Cropsey is the name given to all the evil that lurks in the dark on Staten Island. This urban legend, passed down to each generation, takes on many different guises: Cropsey is the crazed killer brandishing a hook for a hand, or maybe an ax, or the ever-popular butcher knife. But is Cropsey a manifestation of the fears of the young or a bona fide maniac run amok? In Cropsey, directors Barbara Brancaccio and Joshua Zeman attempt to weave the urban legend of Cropsey with the real-life disappearances of young children on Staten Island. Their subject is ultimately Andre Rand, a former employee at a Staten Island mental institution, who is eventually arrested for the kidnapping and murder of Jennifer Schweiger. Rand is convicted, but the story continues as Rand is suspected in the disappearances of more children. Rand’s conviction will bring solace to some,...
- 8/19/2010
- by Dirk Sonniksen
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
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