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Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders

Play trailer Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders 2026 1h 25m Documentary LGBTQ+ History Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 11 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
"Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders" peels back the layers of controversy surrounding the making of the 1980 thriller, "Cruising." Directed by William Friedkin, the film triggered fierce protests from the LGBTQ+ community for its portrayal of a serial killer targeting gay men in New York's leather bars. Friedkin drew inspiration from the brutal murder of Variety reporter Addison Verrill, blurring the boundaries between cinematic fiction and real-life tragedy.

Critics Reviews

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Ryan Lattanzio IndieWire Jun 11
A-
Best of all, as critical as “Mineshaft” is about Friedkin’s grotesque vision of gay life in the too-short gap between Stonewall and AIDS, this rousing and thoughtful documentary encourages you to take a look back at “Cruising” with fresh eyes. Go to Full Review David Rooney The Hollywood Reporter Jun 9
For anyone interested in queer history, both social and pop-cultural, there’s a lot here to chew on. Go to Full Review Guy Lodge Variety Jun 9
“Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders” already has a lot to do. But Jeffrey Schwarz’s engaging, impassioned documentary takes on plenty else besides. Go to Full Review Tim Miller Cape Cod Wave Magazine 1d
3/4
Jeffrey Schwarz explores the intense LGBTQ+ protests that took place while Cruising was still filming and the context under which the film was made, including the real-life case on which it was based. Go to Full Review Frank J. Avella The Contending Jun 16
B+
(Jeffrey) Schwarz’s doc is a welcome entry into the ever-increasing Cruising canon... Go to Full Review Mike McGranaghan Aisle Seat Jun 12
Eighty-four minutes fly right by because of how engrossing and emotional the subject matter is. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Jeffrey Schwarz

Director

Adam Baran

Self

Alan Eichler

Executive Producer

Gerald Herman

Executive Producer

Ron Nyswaner

Executive Producer

Robbie Rogers

Executive Producer

Movie Info

Synopsis "Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders" peels back the layers of controversy surrounding the making of the 1980 thriller, "Cruising." Directed by William Friedkin, the film triggered fierce protests from the LGBTQ+ community for its portrayal of a serial killer targeting gay men in New York's leather bars. Friedkin drew inspiration from the brutal murder of Variety reporter Addison Verrill, blurring the boundaries between cinematic fiction and real-life tragedy.
Director
Jeffrey Schwarz
Production Co
Automat Pictures
Genre
Documentary, LGBTQ+, History
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 25m