Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders
“The murders inspired a movie. The movie ignited a movement.”
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.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Adam Baran
Self
Andy Humm
Self
Armando D. Muñoz
Self
Bud S. Smith
Self
Charles Kaiser
Self
Charles Lum
Self
Dan Savage
Self
Darkqwolf
Self
David Del Valle
Self
David Rothenberg
Self
Dennis Dermody
Self
Don Scardino
Self
Drusilla Adeline
Self
Efrain Gonzalez
Self
Frank Henenlotter
Self
Howard Rosenman
Self
James Polchin
Self
Jim Fall
Self
Release History & Theatrical Window
Revelation Perth International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jeffrey Schwarz
- Original Title
- Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
- Production Studios
- Automat Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jeffrey Schwarz
Jeffrey Schwarz
Jeffrey Schwarz, John Boccardo, Ron Nyswaner, Robbie Rogers, Alan Eichler
Department Leadership Roster
Jeffrey Schwarz
Producer
Jeffrey Schwarz
Director
John Boccardo
Producer
Jeffrey Schwarz
Editor
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders.
Fish Jelly Film Reviews -- Documentaries
You're watching Fish Jelly Film Reviews (Documentary Films).
More Like Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders about?
“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.
Who directed Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders?
Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders was directed by Jeffrey Schwarz.
Who stars in Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders?
The principal cast of Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders includes Adam Baran, Andy Humm, Armando D. Muñoz, Bud S. Smith, Charles Kaiser.
When was Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders released and how long is it?
Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders was released in 2026 with a total runtime of 1h 25m.