Cropsey is a documentary film directed by Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio that explores the urban legend of an escaped mental patient named Cropsey, who supposedly snatched children off the streets of Staten Island in the 1970s and 80s. Zeman and Brancaccio, who grew up in Staten Island, decide to investigate the legend further after they realize that an actual person named Andre Rand had been convicted of kidnapping and murdering two children on the island.
The film follows Zeman and Brancaccio as they delve into the case, conducting interviews with locals, law enforcement officials, and family members of the missing children. They uncover a disturbing history of neglect and abuse at the Willowbrook State School, a now-closed facility for mentally disabled children that was notorious for its overcrowding and inhumane conditions.
As they investigate further, Zeman and Brancaccio begin to suspect that Rand may have been involved in more than two kidnappings and murders, and that he may have been part of a larger conspiracy involving the staff at Willowbrook. They also uncover evidence suggesting that there may be other suspects involved in the disappearances of the missing children, and that the truth behind these crimes may never be fully known.
Cropsey is a haunting and fascinating look at a real-life boogeyman and the dark history of Staten Island's past. It raises important questions about the treatment of mentally ill individuals and the long-term effects of institutionalized abuse on vulnerable populations.