MINESHAFT: The Cruising Murders

Directed by Jeffrey Schwarz | 2026 | 84 min | United States

Starring Dan Savage, Michael Musto, Randy Jurgensen, Don Scardino

Coming to Rainbow Visions straight from a Tribeca Film Festival world premiere, MINESHAFT: THE CRUISING MURDERS peels back the layers of controversy surrounding the making of the 1980 thriller, Cruising.

Cruising, directed by William Friedkin, triggered fierce protests from the queer 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® Award-winning director Jeffrey Schwarz (I Am Divine, Tab Hunter Confidential) brings his signature storytelling flair to this gripping chapter of queer history where true crime, moviemaking, and resistance collide.

Content advisory: Coarse language, sexual situations, and descriptions of violence. Recommended for audiences 16+.

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