MovieChat Forums > The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007) Discussion > Why was this movie buried?

Why was this movie buried?

posted 12 years ago by boinnng
20 replies | jump to latest

I remember a long while back I saw a preview for this flick at the theater, possibly even a poster for it. It never came out (at least not where I live. Did it play anywhere?). And it's never been released on DVD as far as i can tell as well. Does anyone know WHY? It's clearly a FICTIONAL film (based on everything I read), with elements based on real serial killers (much like how "Psycho" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" were based on Ed Gein in Wisconsin), so it can't have been banned or buried because of anything "real" being shown. Why was it dumped? is it that BAD??? What's the story? What happened to this movie?

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] rallyinthestreets 9 years ago

But from every perspective that actually matters -- story execution, originality, and terror -- it's easily one of the greatest found footage films ever made.

Horror fans have such terrible taste. The fact that pure crap like House of the Devil has a higher rating than this film is a joke.

[–] deadbodieseverywhere17 9 years ago

Horror fans have such terrible taste. The fact that pure crap like House of the Devil has a higher rating than this film is a joke.

I'm so glad there are people out there to tell me what's good and what's bad so I don't have to form my own opinion.

"The Martian Manhunter is the heart of the Justice League." - The Flash (Barry Allen)

[–] jcgamer107 9 years ago

lol right. I do think there are a lot of bad horror films (it's a difficult genre), but Poughkeepsie Tapes AND House of the Devil are both good imo. It's all taste.

We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turnin' every good thing to rust

[–] deadbodieseverywhere17 9 years ago

lol right. I do think there are a lot of bad horror films (it's a difficult genre), but Poughkeepsie Tapes AND House of the Devil are both good imo. It's all taste.

Glad you agree 😃

I didn't like Poughkeepsie Tapes, but I did enjoy House of the Devil. To each their own!

And I should add I usually enjoy found footage style movies (or someone will probably say "you just don't like found footage."

"The Martian Manhunter is the heart of the Justice League." - The Flash (Barry Allen)

[–] Dan_Garten 7 years ago

[–] deadbodieseverywhere17 9 years ago

The 'found footage' parts were horrible.

Is this the one that had sounds effects/music play during the found footage scenes? It seems like there was a scene in it where someone saw the killer and there was this loud jump scare music...but I can't remember if it was this movie or not. Whatever movie it was, that just ruins the found footage element lol.

"The Martian Manhunter is the heart of the Justice League." - The Flash (Barry Allen)

[–] dkuhar 11 years ago

It's really not THAT bad. I liked it enough. Also, it's kind of odd that the studio would be advertising it in theaters and then never release it, not even on DVD.

[–] ash24m 11 years ago

It has nothing to do with it being "bad". It's better the most horror that gets released in theatres and much better then you avg straight to dvd. Maybe they don't know how to market it?

[–] dcflag_09 11 years ago

If V/H/S can get released, then this can too

[–] Gbradley13 11 years ago

i remember seeing the poster for this

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[–] CptCannabis 11 years ago

the acting is pretty bad in some parts but overall the movie is effective and scary. i still think it's one of the scariest films i have ever seen because it's realistic, unsettling and can very well happen.

[–] nuttypunkrock 11 years ago

no idea why this was buried. its definitely not because it was bad. i watched "The Bay" recently and that was very poor. I thought this was creepy and very well done

[–] divisionbell-2 11 years ago

The bay was just awful. That movie went absolutely no where. It should never have been billed as a horror movie, nor should it have had that awesome cover that made you think there would be creatures in that film. I got to the end started to wonder if i had seen the right movie. So disappointing.

I really wish I could find The Poughkeepsie tapes. Just to at least see it. I remember seeing the trailer and it looked creepy. I can't remember the last time a movie completely disappeared like this one. Even bad movies get released at some point.

"The world is indeed comic, but the joke is on mankind" - Lovecraft

[–] sivazh 11 years ago

You can watch it here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQlhNg2A36w and you can get a DVD of it from NewWorldVideo.info

"Look at them big old lips!!" - Pumpkin from "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo"

[–] divisionbell-2 11 years ago

Thank you!

[–] CGlMDB 10 years ago

Because there are literally thousands of horror movies out there competing, especially online, & especially found footage films. I thought this was really well made, but there's nothing unique enough about it to set it apart & make it memorable.

[–] footnotegirl 10 years ago

Because it was bad, it is so, so bad.
I saw it at a movie festival full of people who were basically the demographic for this, huge horror fans, etc. NO ONE liked it. Theater with over 280 people, and there wasn't a single person I talked to who thought it was anything but awful. It's a complete mess. At some points, it seems like it's comedy. At other points, gore porn. Other points, crime/suspense. None of these link together well at all. There are some truly good moments (the interview near the end with the main victim), but they are vastly overshadowed by silliness like the girl bouncing on the balloon or the map effects in the beginning.

[–] Mr_Ectoplasma 10 years ago

I remember in 2007 seeing the trailer for this film when I went and saw "The Mist". Years later I found it streaming online and watched it. Thought it was decent. Still no clue why it was permanently shelved. An explanation from the filmmakers and/or distributor would have been nice, especially since all this time has passed.