Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders

A sober, absorbing look at art, protest and real violence, balancing archival rage with thoughtful reflection on queer history.

Directed by

Jeffrey Schwarz

Genres

Documentary

Starring

Adam Baran, Andy Humm, Armando D. Muñoz

Tagline

The murders inspired a movie. The movie ignited a movement.

Overview

“Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders" peels back the layers of controversy surrounding the making of the 1980 thriller, "Cruising." Directed by William Friedkin, the film triggered fierce protests from the LGBTQ+ community for its portrayal of a serial killer targeting gay men in New York's leather bars. Friedkin drew inspiration from the brutal murder of Variety reporter Addison Verrill, blurring the boundaries between cinematic fiction and real-life tragedy.

How it feels

Earnest, dark, melancholic and tense. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Media, identity, violence, justice

Content

Strong language. Mild violence, gore and sexual content.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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