The Poughkeepsie Tapes

"The terror is real."

2007 1h 21m EN

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 824

HorrorMysteryCrimeThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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.

“The terror is real.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Stacy Chbosky
Cheryl Dempsey
Ben Messmer
Edward 'Ed' Carver
Lou George
Felton Lewis
Ivar Brogger
Leonard Schway
Michael Lawson
Simon Alray
Amy Lyndon
Alice Endrisart
Ron Harper
Mike Moakes
Samantha Robson
Samantha Baker

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John Erick Dowdle
Writers: Drew Dowdle, John Erick Dowdle, John Erick Dowdle
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

81 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $0.2M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 90% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 19 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

214+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by John Erick Dowdle, shot by Shawn Dufraine. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Keefus Ciancia. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Elliot Greenberg shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John Erick Dowdle directs. Shawn Dufraine behind the camera. Keefus Ciancia scores. Elliot Greenberg cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

181 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Shot for just $0.2M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
3Earned back only 90% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
4Released 19 years ago.
5214+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.
6Directed by John Erick Dowdle, shot by Shawn Dufraine. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Keefus Ciancia. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Elliot Greenberg shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Stacy Chbosky and Ben Messmer and Lou George carry the top of the cast.
10Marketing tagline: "The terror is real.".
11IMDB entry: tt1010271 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
12Classified under 24 themes, including "mask", "pedophilia", "stockholm syndrome", "suffering".