Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders

The untold story of the controversy surrounding the making of William Friedkin’s 1980 thriller Cruising, the fierce protests around its production, and the real life murders that inspired the film.

Cruising 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.

Emmy®-winning director Jeffrey Schwarz (Vito, I Am Divine, Tab Hunter Confidential) brings his signature storytelling flair to this gripping chapter of queer history where true crime, moviemaking, and LGBTQ+ resistance collide.