Review of The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007) by T C — 02 Dec 2009

I have a strange, irrational feeling that most people will not like The Poughkeepsie Tapes.

I trust that all the idiotic doubts as to whether this movie was or wasn't based on true events are dissipated by now. It does not use real footage, nor is it based on true events, other than being loosely inspired by the serial killer case of Kendall Francois, a redneck-like creature who lived in Poughkeepsie, NY and killed several prostitutes in the Poughkeepsie area, during the late 90s. Therefore in this case, reality is much more dull and uninteresting than fiction.

The serial killer portrayed in this movie is far from being a redneck. His level of disturbance surpasses the normal definition of insanity. His boundaries go way beyond the mundane concept of murder and torture. His means are much more than a simple sadistic self-indulgence.

But I digress.

Plus, I am starting to sound like an admirer more than anything else.

And I hate to digress.

If one already knows what to expect when one chooses to watch The Poughkeepsie Tapes, and if one is still willing to do so, then it's highly probable that this will result in a rewarding, albeit draining experience. I suppose it falls under the category of those movies that either draw you or don't. And if they do, then this work is highly conceptualized and executed to capture your attention, interest and emotions throughout.

The camera work is one of a supposed documentary enriched with parts of real footage, i.e. steady filmed interviews crossed with shaky, dark and sometimes unclear shots of what was supposedly filmed by the human centerpiece of this movie. But, even without showing too much, several scenes are haunting in the little they show and in what they make you feel, and will be haunted by what your perception adds to them. That is probably one of the greatest achievements of this cinematic effort.

Almost every single actor in this movie is anonymous, and can't act (although there are a few and notable exceptions). The latter would account for two things:

1) the reason why they are anonymous;.

2) (in this very specific case,) the higher degree of realism depicted, which creeps inside your skin while you watch what's being unfolded before your eyes: a horrific display of human psychopathy, relentless, uncompromising, with the satisfaction of the Id as its sole motivator, and with no feelings other than the visceral ones resulting from his actions.

The Poughkeepsie Tapes, an unexpected, disturbing and obscure pleasure for the eye and for the deepest, untapped realms of your soul.

Enjoy.

(Hint: four out of five means they could still do better.).