Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders

2026 · 85 min · Documentary

The murders inspired a movie. The movie ignited a movement.

“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
Released: June 6, 2026
Language: English

Cast

Adam Baran
Self
Andy Humm
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Armando D. Muñoz
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Bud S. Smith
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Charles Kaiser
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Charles Lum
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Dan Savage
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Darkqwolf
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David Del Valle
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David Rothenberg
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Dennis Dermody
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Don Scardino
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