The person who is framed looks absolutely nothing like him. He mostly approached young women with a fake sling around his arm feigning trouble, and then clubbed them to death in a secluded area, followed by dismemberment. Trending. really gave me the chills. This film is all about the psychology of the killer and how that same repeated psychology we see evidence of throughout the movie shapes the narrative of the documentary itself. I will report back. Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)right to your inbox. He then abducts Cheryl and keeps her as a slave in his basement, enacting a twisted rendition of BDSM. The use of found footage and the similarities to real-life child abduction cases make the movie seem rather realistic but its not actually based on a true story. Finally, the cops track the killer down, and on storming his house, are shocked to find one of his victims, Cheryl Dempsey, who was abducted as a teen 8 years earlier, still alive. She also offers counseling services for survivors who are struggling with trauma related to their experiences with violence or abuse. The Poughkeepsie Tapes concludes with an interview with Cheryl after her release from the hospital and the difference in the girl weve seen in home videos before her abduction and the woman who returns home is shocking. Despite this belief, she kills herself two weeks later. She reminisced, "We even used my stuffed animals and our giant camcorder to shoot our own version of 'Friday the 13th.' Cheryl had 7 siblings: John Robert Dempsey and 6 other siblings. As far as sibling creative teams go, the Dowdle Brothers may not be as legendary as the Wachowskis or the Coen Brothers, but they've carved out a niche for themselves in horror cinema. Dowdle added that he was interested in the contrast between the natural beauty upstate and the sense of "some of the danger of New York City [spilling] off" as a kind of urban contaminant. Several of them were alcoholics and my first husband was physically abusive. Compared to other serial killers, he was a good student, and even served as his own lawyer when he was prosecuted for his crimes. Towards the end of the movie, the filmmakers apparently interview Cheryl Dempsey, the only victim that the killer lets go. It seems that Cheryl was right. After being rescued from her captor, she began to speak out about her experience in an effort to raise awareness about the horrors that survivors of abuse face every day. Its not. The film portrays Cheryl as having Stockholm syndrome, and like I said, I think that's a possibility and would make sense if it were the case -- but I also think that the killer is using the illusion of Stockholm Syndrome and portraying Cheryl as being the perpetrator of her own self harm and ultimate demise as a way to avoid blame. Why, then, did he choose Poughkeepsie as the stalking ground for his grimly prolific serial killer? We hope you enjoy this website. Cheryl Dempsey was one of the victims in those tapes, and she has since becme an advocate for victims of violence and abuse everywhere. What is Megan Is Missing about? For more than a decade /R/HORROR has been reddit.com's gateway to all things Horror: from movies & TV, to books & games. The all-too-realistic tactics the film shows are textbook brainwashing techniques. Good. It is possible that Ed saw her as the only potential threat for him to deal with. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. During her interview, she demonstrates signs of Stockholm syndrome. The similarity of this case with the Poughkeepsie Tapes is that the couple killed several victims after taking their photographs. Cheryl Dempsey: A Tale of Psychological Torment, The Abuse and Trauma of Aileen Wuornos Childhood. The tapes show many, many victims, but the film's main focus is Cheryl Dempsey a young woman kidnapped and systematically broken down by the butcher resulting in a fate far worse than death. I'm not really sure about your theory. Fred West was a deadly serial killer, who is believed to have killed more than 13 young women, teenagers, and even children, in Gloucester, England, aided by his second wife Rosemary Castello. I haven't seen this movie in a while, but it fucked with me. Claiming that the tapes shown in the movie have been left behind by the killer himself, has been the USP of the movie right from the start. When he saw a victim of his choice, he would flash the headlights to signal Myra to take them home in her van. She's a major reason "Poughkeepsie" has such a lasting impact on audiences. Unfortunately, she kills herself two weeks after the interview. I eventually got sober and married a man who loves me unconditionally, but the need for pain did not go away. Also, the scene where the killer is half crawling around with the mask on is something from a nightmare. Almost everyone he interviews is shown as unreliable in some way. [Editorial] Films To Ruin Your Day: So You Really Think You Have a Serial Killer Obsession? Three years into therapy, Ive only cracked the surface of how this trauma has affected the way I see myself and the way I engage with the world. It also has interviews with people who are supposed to be law enforcement officers and members of the families of the victims. I know my dad loves me, or at least he thinks he does, but his love is conditional and must be earned by my behavior. The tapes also provide an insight into the mind of the killer, as they show him stalking and selecting his victims before brutally murdering them in cold blood. Rader would take photographs of the corpses, which he mailed, along with taunting letters to local news agencies and police departments. As a result, the film was banned until now, nearly a decade later. He was probably able to get Cheryl to the interview by making her realize who he was at some point and secretly threatening her family. One of the most particularly graphic moments is the infamous barrel scene and in parts where horrific pictures come up on the screen. Typically when you take inspiration from a real life event like that, you want to embellish on it a little bit, come at it from a creative angle. Is it based on a true story? It also includes brief flashes of photos accompanying them. "The Poughkeepsie Tapes" purports to be a true crime account of a massive collection of videotapes recovered from an abandoned house. Some bring up the possibility of him being a law enforcement officer, even a profiler. The documentary also offers interviews with police officers, family members of victims, and even a victim herself to provie further insight into the criminals motivations and methods. If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 18007997233. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The movie is based on the found footage concept, and the makers advertise it as being a true story. Unfortunately, she kills herself two weeks after the interview. In an interview with BlueCat, director John Erick Dowdle said that he considers "the scariest scene in the movie" to be a long, dialogue-heavy sequence where the killer picks up an English woman who mistakes him for a police officer a misconception he cultivates and encourages until it's too late for her to escape. Something about The Poughkeepsie Tapes called to me. He kidnapped several women at gunpoint, and then tortured them at home before killing them, in the late 60s. One gruesome similarity shared with the movie is that, Ted enjoyed putting the severed head of one victim on the body of another. William was born in Denton, TX and currently resides in Austin. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it is following it that closely. Her friend Amy sets out to find her. Who are the best 90s television characters of all time. 2. He is convicted of murdering 49 women, mostly prostitutes, beginning in 1982, until as recently as 2001. Sometimes darkness can be illuminating, and sometimes even the most grim horror can be healing. Kendall Francois was a serial killer responsible for the deaths of eight women in Poughkeepsie, New York. So are the Poughkeepsie Tapes real? Things like that, so I'm willing to let that part slide. It is possible that Ed saw her as the only potential threat for him to deal with. But what is really creepy is that, there have been real people who have committed crimes like the killer from the movie, some of which are on the prowl even today. This vague identification allows us to project our own tormentors onto his image: the killers, the abusers, the bullies, the patriarchy itself. During her captivity, she was subjected to unexplained torture that left lasting scars both physical and psychological. At one point during her interview, she scratched her head with the stump of her left forearm, implying that she cut it off. One of the most iconic images from "The Poughkeepsie Tapes" is a plague doctor mask, sometimes worn by the killer as he torments his victims. Not long after Cheryl is buried, her remains are mysteriously dug up and disappear. Jean was born on May 4 1923, in Stratford, Perth, Ontario, Canada. I think youre theory is insightful and alluring. As a child, he liked to steal womens footwear, and on growing up, he graduated to something far more disturbingkilling them. . Is the last 22 min of Megan is Missing real footage? In their reports, some write that they think Ed is meticulous and organized, while others note that they believe he is disorganized. His victims were Wendy Meyers (30), Gina Barone (29), Catherine Marsh (31), Kathleen Hurley (47), Sandra French (44), Catina Newmaster (25), Mary Giaccone (35) and Joy Valerio (29). . She started to want the role and when she got it, she put a lot of work into making her performance as realistic, heartbreaking, and painful as possible. Towards the end of the movie, the filmmakers apparently interview Cheryl Dempsey, the only victim that the killer lets go. Despite being subjected to some of the worst forms of torture imaginable, she managed to survive her captivity and eventually escape with her life intact. Some of her research was academic she read tragic accounts of women who had gone through similar ordeals but a lot of it came down to raw experience. Written, directed, and edited by John Erick Dowdle (Full Moon Rising), The Poughkeepsie Tapes tells the story of a serial killer who prowls the streets of the eponymous city in the US state of New York. One thing that is interesting about the constant reworking of the Halloween (1978) timelines is that we get to see a different side to the characters involved depending on who is at the creative helm for each particular movie. A fictional Bundy even appears in the film, advising detectives on how to catch their elusive prey. The Poughkeepsie Tapes are found as well as Cheryl Dempsey, who has been kept alive for eight years. Although I'm still unclear on what he did to the married couple. View the profiles of people named Cheryl Dempsey. We never learn the identity of the Butcher or even see his face. Due to the torture he had inflicted on her, she could never deny him, even if he asked her to commit suicide. With the directors admission, theres absolutely no doubt that the Poughkeepsie Tapes are a fictional creation, though inspired from real cases of serial killers. Ed catches her and makes Cheryl kill her. The footage is likely from the tape he left in Cheryls coffin. Clearly, the faux-documentary tactics John Erick Dowdle used for his movie have been effective, even in an era where audiences are internet-savvy and all but guaranteed to have seen plenty of mockumentaries. In May, Green announced he and Fox had separated and in November, she officially filed for divorce. Gossip Chimp and The Cinemaholic ran similar pieces in 2020 and 2021. Shidehs story takes place in post-revolutionary Iran during the War of Cities and sees her not only try to cope with current events but also piece her life back together now that the revolution is over. Let us investigate. The Water Street Butcher isn't Jason Voorhees; he's a disturbing vision of a terrifying but real-feeling serial killer. "For Cheryl Dempsey" -- dedicated to the victims. "I throw a bunch of paint at the wall, and he comes in and helps me sculpt it," he explained, saying their process hasn't changed. "My most powerful preparation was to repeat the words, 'You are the master and it pleases me to serve you' for an hour or two at a time. These Are Some of the Most Popular Movie Quotes of All Time. It became a kind of cinematic cryptid, with its reputation surviving on rumors and word-of-mouth from the few horror fans lucky enough to see it. Despite this belief, she kills herself two weeks later. No. The Water Street Butcher is a convincing serial killer because he's a composite, cobbled together from the strategies and methods of many killers who were all too real. The killer most likely followed Foley's route and killed the girls after Foley himself garnered their services in order to frame him. While some contain fetish play, more show torture, rape, murder, and dismemberment. Cameron tormented her in all ways, including rape and sodomy. When James Wans The Conjuring (2013) was first released, it set the tone for 2010s horror and was regarded by some horror fans as the beginning of a renaissance for the genre, Sara is host of a failing web series entitled Encounters which shows her meeting a range of offbeat people through personal ads, Its not wholly obvious in the first thirty minutes of Tobe Hoopers The Texas Chainsaw Massacre just who our final girl will be, Filmdoms conventional wisdom in the mid-20th Century decreed that horror was no place for a lady. The Poughkeepsie Tapes are found as well as Cheryl Dempsey, who has been kept alive for eight years. Finally, in July 2014, it was released as a video on demand edition on DirecTV briefly, before being withdrawn again. He exercises a control over her mind that is so absolute and so brutally enforced that when she's finally rescued, she's terrified of ever accidentally saying something her listener doesn't want to hear. Cheryl Dempsey was finally interviewed as well, but now she is disturbed and whispers. Thus, the movie is not based on a real story, but takes inspiration from several real cases of serial killers. Stacy Chbosky's interview in John Norman's "Welcome to Our Nightmares" highlights that the Chboskys are long-time horror collaborators in their own right. The story begins in the year 1988, when police stations are flooded with cases of missing women and unsolved murders. She says that Ed loves her and will come back for her someday. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Dennis Rader was the employee of a security firm in Kansas, and an ex-US Air Force veteran, who was to later achieve infamy as the BTK (Bind-Torture-Kill) killer. Her brother, writer-director Stephen Chbosky, serves as the film's producer. There are a lot of potential nightmares in "The Poughkeepsie Tapes," from disconcerting images (the Water Street Butcher creeping along on his hands and feet) to agonizing suspense sequences. Even future release dates given by the makers went by without seeing any action, though leaked versions of the film were available all this time on the web. The best result we found for your search is Cheryl A Dempsey age 50s in Allentown, PA in the 4 C's neighborhood. The mockumentary ends with one officer speculating about Eds whereabouts. Don't you think that there are a lot of common features with Cameron Hooker case? Maybe someone else will recognize a piece of Cheryls story, or my own, and we can share an authentic connection. Combat Logging Avoid Unwanted Consequences! However, the character is not based on any real-life person or events, and is entirely fictional. pretty sure it was the fbi audio video specialist. He claimed credit, not only for his own crimes, but also for others, just to satiate his ego. After eight years of being kept alive against her will, Cheryl was finally freed from her captor, but the trauma she endured will never be forgotten. The psychopath begins his killing spree by murdering a little girl playing outside, before moving on to other victims. I had found the right mask. These binges were also a way of tapping into my self-destructive tendencies and while I dreaded the painful hangovers and morning-after inventory of my barely remembered behavior, I also felt like I deserved them. The torture scenes horrified me, but more than anything, the final interview with Cheryl Dempsey really had me stuck in my seat. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved They went on to make "Quarantine" (a remake of the Spanish found footage horror film "REC")for a budget of $12 million(a substantial upgrade from the $450,000 they had for "The Poughkeepsie Tapes"), then "Devil" (from a story by M. Night Shyamalan), and the ambitious low-budget film"As Above, So Below," another found footage movie. In the following days and weeks, my mind kept returning to it, replaying images, and turning scenes over and over in my brain. Andell Wilkerson: Yvette Wilsons Iconic Role on The Parkers, The Peace of the Pacific: The Worlds Calmest Sea, Colloportus An Incredibly Useful Spell, Investigating Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Financial Status, The Approach Wedge (AW) A Golfers Club For All Shots. Is Vin Diesel the Best Dancer in Hollywood? The psychologist says, Pain had been such a huge part of her life for so long, she didnt know how to exist without it. This sentence unlocked something in my brain that Id been struggling with for most of my life and, though triggering, helped me understand my own desire for pain and shame. I watch Cheryl describe the Butcher and recognize the lies I told myself about my own family. She is smart, charismatic and tenacious. Vertical Jump: Can You Rise Above the Average? Cheryls story is one of triumph over incredible odds. Fans were left with no legal way to watch the movie and to Dowdle's chagrin, even illegal methods could only turn up the inferior rough cut. Serial killers in the United States If youve ever wondered how many serial killers are currently active in the United States, the answer is far from comforting. While also Nightmare Fuel, the final interview with Cheryl. Her case serves as a stark reminder of the power of psychological abuse and its devastating effects on victims. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I became hypersensitive to his moods and emotions, trying to guess what would trigger his rage and what I should pretend to be in order to earn the parental love I craved. At the time of his death in 2014, he had been serving his sentence at Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York. He was good-looking and charismatic, which reassured his victims of his good intentions. The aura of mystery about the film has been only intensified by the problems that the brothers experienced while trying to release the movie. The films slow-paced, realistic style creates a sense of dread and tension that few horror films have been able to achieve. You know . It allows the cops to get back in action and track the killer. After being rescued, she kills herself and her body disappears from its grave. She was held captive by her captor for eight years and suffered severe psychological abuse. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. Cheryl Dempseys story is a tragedy and a reminder of the terrible and cruel things that some people are capable of. Its my favourite horror movie but I haven't think about it this way before. He was convicted of 8 counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Stuck in my seat police stations are flooded with cases of serial.., Reddit May still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform she could deny! To let that part cheryl dempsey interview the similarity of this case with the,! Or even see his face other victims proper functionality of our platform weeks after the interview photos accompanying them watch. 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