[The Poughkeepsie Tapes]
Plot:When hundreds of videotapes showing vicious acts of torture and murder are found in an abandoned house, they reveal a serial killers long history of murder and madness, and become the most shocking pieces of evidence detectives have ever uncovered.

Cast:Stacy Chbosky, Ben Messmer, Samantha Robson, Ivar Brogger, Lou George, Amy Lyndon, Michael Lawson, Ron Harper, Kim Kenny.

My Thoughts:Not bad.

Review:"The Poughkeepsie Tapes" is a true crime-inspired horror pic which documents the exploits of a fictional torturistic serial killer who killed a slew of people in Poughkeepsie New York. The film, which was directed and written by the Brothers Dowdle is a gritty indie which plays out like most true crime-esque horror films where the plot is centered on a serial murderer. It has the obligatory interviews with FBI profilers, victims, their families, law enforcement officials, coroners, etc.

This sort of film doesn't really work unless something is done to push the viewer into buying into what they're seeing. Making it feel and seem real, even though it's not. Which is the dangerous part of these types of movies. They can fall apart very easily. But the brothers Dowdle manage to make their monster, their villain, who's human...into a monster. A full-fledged creep, prick, bastard, whatever you wanna call him. But that's what the Dowdle brothers manage to do very well in this movie, create a villain who you hate, who you despise and loathe.

Because of the tapes that law enforcement officials find, and what's on the actual footage. The sadistic, sick, twisted, and evil acts the killer performs on these innocent people. The movie also adds two dimensions to the killer by making him part sadist, and part slasher. There are just as many moments where the killer simply assaults someone in brutal fashion, as there are where he has a victim tied up, and is mentally and physically abusing them.

This movement and transition back and forth from the two methods of murder give the film great balance, which is further strengthened by the harrowing accounts of the killers victims and others who were either victims who lived to tell, people investigating the crimes, or relatives of the slain. It's a film which really is not for the faint at heart, and people who don't like films that fall into the sadistic category such as "Housee Of 1000 Corpses", and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003" and "The Beginning" -- where the captured people are put through the ringer.....and endure all sorts and kinds of abuse....will not like this movie and will find it hard to tolerate most of it.

The Dowdles do a great job of making the movie seem as real as possible, and if you didn't know the backstory behind it, you'd sware that it actually is made up of real tapes found at the house of a real crime scene where crimes where commited by a real serial killer. This is a film I'd refer to as a real fear movie. It creates an aura of real fear, real panic, and real horror. The gritty look, feel, and tone of the movie also help it tremendously.

Adding an urban, dark, and moody layer to the transpiring events. The actors, who are mostly unknowns...play their roles very well also. They're mostly emotional moments where someone is either crying, or having to give a full and graphic account of what they saw and or found, you know...those "lump in the throat" moments where you have to discuss something that just makes your stomach turn, and makes you physically ill to speak of.

It's not the most exciting film though, which is one of it's weaknesses. The movie gives the killer just a little bit too much control and doesn't atleast try to create a yin to his yang, or some sort of good guy in the context of the true crime story...who was atleast close to being hot on the trailer of the killer. But the movie has alot of chilling moments and alot of graphic torture scenes which overshadow the few flaws that it boasts. The ending is very haunting as well.

"The Poughkeepsie Tapes" is a movie that only a select few will be interested in, and further more a movie in which a select few will be able to endure. It's not typical mainstream chase, stalk, and slash horror. Nor is it over-the-top serial killer horror. It's a taught, psychological horror film which really pushes the dark and twisted side of humanity into the viewers face.

Positives:A very impactful villain, the gritty, dark, and moody look, feel, and tone of the movie give it something extra, the torture scenes and accounts of those involved are pretty realistic. Good performances, and a haunting conclusion.

Negatives:The villain is not given a strong enough nemesis character on the opposite side of the spectrum to balance things out.

Overall:Three out of four stars.





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