The Poughkeepsie Tapes Real contain graphic scenes of torture, assault, and murder, but how much of the film is based on true events and how much is fiction?
The Poughkeepsie Tapes is a creepy discovered footage film that is primarily fabricated but draws inspiration from a number of real-life serial killers and murders — here’s how much of it is true.
The Poughkeepsie Tapes was billed as being totally based on true events in order to fascinate audiences with the terrifying snuff movies, news stories, and interviews that encapsulated everything that happened in a basement in Poughkeepsie, New York.
The Poughkeepsie Tapes Real Story
John Erick Dowdle is well known for his horror films, particularly those based on recovered video. As Above, So Below is his most well-known film, but he’s also known for Devil (2010) and Quarantine (2012). (2018).
Dowdle’s films have had a lasting impact on the usage of found footage horror as it has evolved from its roots in The Blair Witch Project, despite his filmography not being as extensive as other directors in the genre.
Found footage films are some of the most compelling storylines because they can hint at some type of truth while also adding realism. Michael Goi’s Megan Is Missing went viral on TikTok recently, and The Poughkeepsie Tapes followed suit. Kidnappings, assaults on women and children, and murder are all depicted in both discovered footage films.
While the marketing for found footage films leads audiences to believe that what they are going to see is almost totally true, Dowdle’s The Poughkeepsie Tapes is entirely made up, with only a few shards of fact used to create one of horror’s most terrible killers.
The film follows a group of investigators as they discuss the videotape recordings that the killer preserved as a memento of each death. 800 videotapes were discovered in the basement of a residence he rented throughout the inquiry.
As the detectives delve into the mind of the mysterious killer, they are led down a path that is far more frightening than they could have imagined. Despite claims to the contrary, The Poughkeepsie Tapes was not based on a true storey.
Rather, it was fully informed by previous serial killers and their murders, as well as the predatory content of snuff videos. Snuff films frequently portray obscene content, usually real-life homicides. Because of its severe use of bodily torture, murder, and cannibalism, Cannibal Holocaust is considered a fictitious snuff film.
In the film industry, there is a lot of discussion about which movies depict real murders and incidents of self-mutilation vs those that are staged. There are actual filmed executions and murders, but they were not made with the intention of entertaining an audience.
Kendall Francois’ 10 murders, which occurred between 1996 and 1998, are the only real-life murders and criminal acts linked to The Poughkeepsie Tapes. Francois is said to have slain ten sex workers, according to local tabloids.
Despite the fact that his crimes may have influenced the film, he never recorded any of them, creating still another layer of separation between the genuine narrative and what is depicted in the film.
The found footage horror film was also influenced by the renowned serial murderer Ted Bundy. Detectives question Bundy in The Poughkeepsie Tapes in the hopes of gaining some form of insight or a pattern that may assist them solve the crime.
Surprisingly, the serial murderer is complicit, and even tries to assist them figure out why he sexually abuses his victims by asking when he does so.
Bundy was hanged in 1989 for the horrible killings of 30 people who were known to him, but it is believed that he murdered many more people. Like the killer in The Poughkeepsie Tapes, he mostly targeted women.
In the end, the film is based on true incidents, but only in part, rather than adopting their entire narrative as other horror films have done. There were no true snuff films based on serial killers, and the character in the film is a one-of-a-kind creation.
Where Can I Find The Poughkeepsie Tapes On The Internet?
For many years, obtaining a legal copy of The Poughkeepsie Tapes was incredibly difficult. That’s because The Poughkeepsie Tapes has been unavailable for almost a decade. Thankfully, that time has passed, and interested horror lovers can now simply see the flick.
The Poughkeepsie Tapes was published on Blu-ray in 2017, and it is presently available to stream on numerous providers, including Paramount+, Epix, AMC+, DirecTV, Spectrum, and Shudder.
Surprisingly, it’s only available to subscribers of those specific services, not for rent or purchase at general digital shops. Despite the disparity in viewing possibilities, the fact that The Poughkeepsie Tapes is now widely available after such a long search is a great success for horror enthusiasts.
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