The Poughkeepsie Tapes

R

2007

1h 26m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

List

60%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

51%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Hundreds of video tapes of torture, murder and dismemberment show a killer's decadelong reign of terror.

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Joel M

This movie is very scary due to how realistic it is, but like there is no mystery or plot. It would be cool if they leaned into it being a murder mystery instead of it just being found footage "torture tapes". The interview near the end was probably the best part of the movie if I'm being honest. Scary but kinda missed potential. 6/10 would recommend if into found footage shock films.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/06/24

Full Review

Mortal

It was not very scary. It was filmed as a documentary of a serial killer and completed with his own tapes. There are scenes that are disturbing but I would not say that it is the best thing I ever watched.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/10/24

Full Review

Jacob C

Likely to be one of the best found footage films from the 2000's, the Poughkeepsie Tapes does provide a morbid perspective from a killer during their acts. However, serious flaws remain with the balancing of the story's elements, which needed nore attentiveness to make this film the best it can be.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/07/24

Full Review

Jagoda B

This movie was kinda weird especially the tapes, but I think the way they filmed it was really cool I really liked the documentary style filming and the bad camera overall I think the movie was alright

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/24/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Some parts were very realistic while other parts were not very realistic at all. Could have benefitted from a bigger budget accompanied by more of an effort to make it as realistic as possible. That said, the star of the show ends up being the actress that played Cheryl Dempsey. Her interview near the end of the movie has really stuck with me. Effectively disturbing plot that does stick with you and make you want a (better-funded, better-produced more realistic) sequel.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/24

Full Review

TiffyBeSoRandom M

I had a hard time telling whether or not this is a real documentary or a well crafted and researched horror movie. The way the actors act feels real but the killings and torture are also shown which doesn't seem like a very tasteful thing to do outside of a fictional story and since I haven't seen a serial killer documentary before I can't tell if this is typical. Either way I enjoyed it. There was never a dull moment. The acting is high quality and the sets were constantly changing. The way the killer abducted people felt very simple and believable. Like a stereotypical danger that you were taught to avoid (getting into a stranger's house or car) was somehow performed in a way that made it seem less frightening.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/14/23

Full Review

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John Erick Dowdle

Director

Stacy Chbosky

Cheryl Dempsey

Ben Messmer

Ed

Samantha Robson

Samantha

Ivar Brogger

Leonard Schway

Lou George

Felton Lewis

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Tony Black

Cultural Conversation

A horrific gem. One of the great found footage pictures and indeed the faux documentary genre.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 16, 2021

Full Review

Gabriel Ricard

Cultured Vultures

The Poughkeepsie Tapes isn't a classic, but it's an engaging horror mockumentary nonetheless.

Rated: 6/10

Oct 23, 2019

Full Review

David Keyes

Cinemaphile.org

The movie thinks too diminutively of human intelligence, even by horror film standards.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 13, 2014

Full Review

Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

With every revelation that could give the Dowdles something to play with, they head right back into the basement, convinced audiences would rather watch close-ups of throat-slittings and teary yelps of pain.

Rated: D+

Aug 7, 2014

Full Review

Jason Morgan

Filmcritic.com

it's the killer's bizarre motivations that truly terrify

Rated: 4/5

May 12, 2009

Full Review

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Synopsis

Hundreds of video tapes of torture, murder and dismemberment show a killer's decadelong reign of terror.

Director: John Erick Dowdle
Producer: Ward Barnett, Stephen Chbosky, Drew Dowdle, Patrick Lussier
Screenwriter: Drew Dowdle, John Erick Dowdle
Production Co: Brothers Dowdle Productions, Poughkeepsie Films
Rating: R (Graphic Descriptions|Terror|Sadistic Violence and Torture)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 2, 2020
Runtime: 1h 26m