Eye Candy #487 - "Cropsey"

Cropsey: This interesting little documentary explores the connection/relationship between the urban legend of Staten Island-based boogeyman “Cropsey” (the origins of the name have been lost to history), and the real disappearance of children from Staten Island during the 1970’s and 80’s, focusing on the person who may or may not be the killer, Andre Rand.   The problem with Rand is that there is no physical evidence to connect him to any of the at least 4 disappearances. but the will of the surrounding community to make him the perp has pushed for his conviction, including some members quite blatantly lying on the stand just because “he looks like that kind of guy“, career drunks and druggies pointing Rand out on the stand years after the fact, that sort of thing.   So the lynch mob mentality is in full effect.  The film also examines the Willowbrook State School, an institution for mentally handicapped children that operated from the 1930’s to the 1980’s where Rand was also a patient, that was infamous for overcrowding, deplorable inhumane conditions, and patient abuse.  The Willowbrook School has fallen partly into ruin and may have served as the site for some of the abductions and is showcased extensively in the film.  Eerie part-mystery, part-hunt for a serial killer (only one body was ever recovered of the missing children), this film managed to sustain my interest from start to finish.  Woodchuck sez, “Check it out.”