The Poughkeepsie Tapes

Police officers raid a house in Poughkeepsie, New York, uncovering over 800 videotapes created by Edward Carver. The tapes appear to document his crimes from abduction to post-mortem mutilation. Investigators begin tracing Carver's whereabouts and victims, though he cleverly avoids appearing on film.

The first tape depicts Carver abducting, raping, and murdering an eight-year-old girl. The footage begins his chilling catalog of brutality and demonstrates his ability to capture victims on film. It sets the tone for the rest of the dossier.

Carver becomes more meticulous and decides not to show his face on camera unless fully disguised. He curates scenes to maintain control while minimizing his own exposure.

In a gas station clip, Carver uses sign language to reveal the location of the bodies to the viewer and to taunt authorities. The gesture hints at his arrogance and control over the surveillance cameras. It demonstrates his desire to manipulate law enforcement through the footage.

Cheryl Dempsey, a teenager, becomes Carver's next victim. He murders and mutilates her boyfriend Tim, then imprisons Cheryl in his basement, subjecting her to sexual, physical, and psychological abuse as his slave. Cheryl's mother Victoria appeals in a televised statement, hoping for her daughter's safety. The scene underscores the family's fear and the reach of Carver's terror.

Carver goes to Victoria, offering to help while filming her. She realizes he is her daughter's captor and remains shocked as he laughs and flees. The moment highlights his willingness to manipulate victims and families for the camera.

With the case drawing attention, Carver shifts to targeting prostitutes while posing as a policeman. The media dubs him the Water Street Butcher, signaling a new phase in his crimes and a broader police hunt.

Investigators are led to Officer James Foley, a man with a history of hiring prostitutes, no alibi, and matching sperm samples. The findings connect him to the escalating murders and cast doubt on his innocence. He is convicted and sentenced to death in 1996.

Foley is executed by lethal injection on September 9, 2001. He maintains his innocence and refuses to plead. The case becomes a focal point in debates about misidentification and accountability.

Days after Foley's execution, a former partner finds a map in his mailbox revealing the location of another body. Investigators realize the real killer used Foley's fertility clinic sperm to frame him and cover another crime. The discovery reshapes the investigation's direction and underscores the danger of false accusations.

On September 12, 2001, Foley is exonerated posthumously, but public awareness is limited due to the proximity of the September 11 attacks. The exoneration challenges the initial narrative of the case. It underscores how quickly public memory shifts in the face of national tragedy.

Cheryl is discovered in Carver's empty house and is rescued, though she is malnourished and irreversibly damaged. She dies by suicide two weeks later, leaving investigators to grapple with the depth of her trauma. Her death adds another layer of tragedy and questions about the survivor's long-term support.

In a post-credits scene, a brutalised woman is filmed by Carver, who tells her he will let her live as long as she does not blink. When she blinks, the scene cuts to black. The moment reinforces the film's bleak meditation on voyeurism and control.