Who needs the boogeyman? We'll always have Cropsey

This is not a film review.

For people who are film buffs, there are numerous film festivals held in different places for you to see. From Cannes, Berlin and Venice to Tribeca and the New York Film Festival, there's always a place to catch good films. However, if you're not looking to go far away to catch a good film on Staten Island, you can always catch the annual Staten Island Film Festival, which is currently in its fifth year has gained a steady following over the years as locals head to the St. George Theater and The College Of Staten Island to watch the work of other fellow Staten Islanders.

It's really a great opportunity for Staten Islanders to showcase their talent. Last year, Pharmacist/Director Dave Broitman scored rave reviews for his zany pharmacy comedy, "Don't Shoot the Pharmacist!" This year, the guys from Dogandponyshowwebsite.com produced a mystery short entitled "17 to Midnight."

While looking through the film selection for this year, one films that caught my eye was a documentary entitled Cropsey. Reading about the film brought back memories of the days when I went to the JCC Summer Camp at Family Park. Now camps are notorious for having their ghost stories to give their campers a little fright. While the camp legend of Cropsey was somewhat over the top, there is some truth to it, especially when you learn about the Willowbrook State Institution err I mean school, which is not far from where the remains of the Cropsey house stands. Matter of fact, if you take a short hike behind what is now JCC Bernikow Building, you'll find the broken down house.

The last time I went to the JCC, they had guards stationed in front of Cropsey's house and all campers and staff were prohibited from heading into forest. However, I have this memory of the camp giving us a tour of the area one day and I remember seeing a rusted, old car.

The Legend of Cropsey, like most other legends has slightly different variations, but it's believed that Andre Rand, who may have been a patient at Willowbrook killed a 12 year old girl with down syndrome in 1987. It's believed that he may have killed other children, yet she was the only body that police found. Thankfully that wasn't the story they told us when I went to camp.

I always wanted to see them make some form of movie about the Cropsey legend and after several years, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio have made that happen. I'm quite glad to see the story is going to be portrayed as a documentary rather than a cheap, gory, bloodfest film. I don't know if I'm going to see it tonight, but based on the trailer, reviews and awards, it seems like an interesting film. If you're not sure what to do tonight, then you should check it out tonight at CSI. The film is scheduled to be screened at 10 in the recital hall in 1P. For more information about this film and other films that are screening tonight, you can check out the links below.

Staten Island Film Festival - Shows

Cropsey Films

This has been Ian K. Feldman speaking words of wisdom.