Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders explores the 1980 William Friedkin thriller Cruising, examining the New York leather scene, its thematic roots in the 1977 murder of journalist Addison Verrill and the protests from the gay community against the film. What unfolds is a fascinating portrait of the era, of the queer community, of protests, of crime, and of cinema, as well as an examination of the reconsideration of Cruising amongst contemporary LGBTQI+ viewers.

The film peels back the layers of controversy surrounding the making of the Cruising which blurred 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.