Skip to main content
Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Search Tom’s Guide
View Profile
Newsletters
Best Picks
Entertainment
Prime Day Deals
Switch 2 Restock
Galaxy Z Fold 7
Wordle Today
Best Mattress
Best laptops
Recommended reading
One of the most intense psychological thriller movies is streaming for free — and it’s a dark ride full of shocking twists
Hulu just got one of the most gripping supernatural thriller movies of 2025 so far — I’m still thinking about the twist ending
The one dark thriller movie that left me on edge is now streaming on Hulu — and it’s a psychological nightmare
I’m super picky about supernatural movies but this overlooked gem is a favorite — watch it free on Tubi
One of my favorite horror movies is now streaming on Netflix — and it’s mind-bending nightmare fuel
One of my favorite horror movies just landed on Netflix — and it’s already crashed the top 10
Prime Video
One of the most underrated sci-fi thriller movies is streaming free on Prime Video — it’s even more intense than I remember
Entertainment
Forget every found footage horror movie you’ve seen — this is the one that actually gets under your skin
Brittany Vincent
28 June 2025
Your sleep might suffer, but ‘The Poughkeepsie Tapes’ is too creepy to skip
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: MGM Distribution Co.)
Some movies scare you while you’re watching them. Others hang around after, popping up in your thoughts when you least expect it. “The Poughkeepsie Tapes” is the second kind.
I watched it years ago, and parts of it still creep into my head when the room is too quiet. It’s also the first movie I recommend when I hear anyone is into found footage horror.
“The Poughkeepsie Tapes” is presented like a documentary, with investigators, psychologists, and grainy VHS footage all stitched together to tell the story of a serial killer who filmed all of their devious deeds. At first, it feels like a standard found footage setup, but the more it unfolds, the more it starts to feel wrong in a way that’s hard to explain.
You may like
One of the most intense psychological thriller movies is streaming for free — and it’s a dark ride full of shocking twists
Hulu just got one of the most gripping supernatural thriller movies of 2025 so far — I’m still thinking about the twist ending
The one dark thriller movie that left me on edge is now streaming on Hulu — and it’s a psychological nightmare
What makes it effective isn’t what you see, but how much it lets you imagine. There are long stretches where nothing graphic happens, but the dread just keeps building. The tone never flinches. It all pays off with a slow, quiet spiral that makes you feel like you’re watching something you’re not supposed to.
If you’re into horror that’s more about tone and psychology than spectacle, this is one of the more disturbing watches you can stream for free on The Roku Channel right now. And you’re definitely going to want to do so before it’s gone.
What’s ‘The Poughkeepsie Tapes’ about?
“The Poughkeepsie Tapes” is framed as a documentary about a serial killer who terrorized a small New York town and vanished without a trace. The twist is that after he disappeared, police discovered a house filled with hundreds of videotapes. Each one documents a different crime, like stalking, abduction, and torture, all recorded by the killer himself.
The Poughkeepsie Tapes Official Trailer #1 – Ivar Brogger Movie (2007) HD – YouTube
This faux documentary mixes interviews, news footage and clips from the tapes to create a fake true crime story that feels almost too real. You hear from detectives, psychologists, and supposed survivors. None of it is graphic in the traditional sense, but the emotional weight is heavy enough as it is.
Sign up to get the BEST of Tom’s Guide direct to your inbox.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
There’s no clear narrative or central protagonist. Instead, the story jumps between different victims and investigators as they try to piece together a timeline. As you watch, it becomes clear this isn’t about solving a mystery or catching a killer. It’s about how someone can operate in plain sight and leave behind so much destruction without ever being found.
But through it all, it never feels like a movie that’s trying to scare you. It presents everything in such a straightforward, matter-of-fact way that it starts to feel real. That’s the kind of horror that emanates from the movie from start to finish.
Why you should stream ‘The Poughkeepsie Tapes’
The found footage horror style has been done to death, but this one takes a much different approach. “The Poughkeepsie Tapes” blends fake documentary interviews with crime scene photos and unsettling home videos to build a story that feels more like true crime than fiction.
(Image credit: MGM Distribution Co.)
These things could have happened. Did they? Who knows? This is a truly immersive project where you really can’t be sure, beyond the credits and the facts.
It’s not flashy, and there’s very little gore. The fear comes from how quiet and controlled it all is. And the fact, of course, that it feels like you’ve just stumbled onto something eerie and private. And terrifying.
There’s no release valve here. No final act where someone fights back or justice is served. The movie holds its tension from start to finish and never lets you feel safe. That’s what makes it so effective, and so hard to shake.
“The Poughkeepsie Tapes” is not for everyone, but if it’s for you, you’ll know pretty quickly. Just don’t plan on sleeping right after. And if you do, well, maybe you should keep a night light handy.
Stream “The Poughkeepsie Tapes” free on the Roku Channel.
More From Tom’s Guide
Best free streaming services
Looking for a binge-watch? 3 free shows on Tubi I recommend
The best Roku devices to stream your favorite movies and shows
Today’s best Chromecast with Google TV (HD) deals
8 Amazon customer reviews
$29.99View
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
See more Entertainment News
Brittany Vincent
Brittany Vincent has been covering video games and tech for over 13 years for publications including Tom’s Guide, MTV, Rolling Stone, CNN, Popular Science, Playboy, IGN, GamesRadar, Polygon, Kotaku, Maxim, and more. She’s also appeared as a panelist at video game conventions like PAX East and PAX West and has coordinated social media for companies like CNET. When she’s not writing or gaming, she’s looking for the next great visual novel in the vein of Saya no Uta. You can follow her on Twitter @MolotovCupcake.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
One of the most intense psychological thriller movies is streaming for free — and it’s a dark ride full of shocking twists
Hulu just got one of the most gripping supernatural thriller movies of 2025 so far — I’m still thinking about the twist ending
The one dark thriller movie that left me on edge is now streaming on Hulu — and it’s a psychological nightmare
I’m super picky about supernatural movies but this overlooked gem is a favorite — watch it free on Tubi
One of my favorite horror movies is now streaming on Netflix — and it’s mind-bending nightmare fuel
One of my favorite horror movies just landed on Netflix — and it’s already crashed the top 10
Latest in Streaming
DirecTV just gave its live TV streaming service a serious upgrade
Paramount Plus offers a 1-month free trial — stream ‘MobLand,’ ‘Yellowstone,’ ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ and more for free
5 best new movies to stream this weekend on Netflix, Prime Video, Peacock and more (June 28-29)
Netflix’s No. 1 movie chronicles the infamous ‘Poop Cruise’ — what to know
Prime Video top 10 shows — here’s the 3 worth watching right now
How to watch Glastonbury 2025 live on BBC iPlayer (it’s free)
Latest in News
DirecTV just gave its live TV streaming service a serious upgrade
iPhone 17 just tipped to get bigger — now more Pro-sized
Ticketmaster was down — live updates on short outage
5 best new movies to stream this weekend on Netflix, Prime Video, Peacock and more (June 28-29)
Netflix’s No. 1 movie chronicles the infamous ‘Poop Cruise’ — what to know
New benchmarks reveal SteamOS beats Windows on handheld gaming performance — here’s the results
LATEST ARTICLES
Sleep experts reveal the 5 biggest nighttime routine mistakes that are ruining your sleep
I review OLED TVs for a living — and this 3-year-old Sony is still one of my favorites I’d buy
New study reveals how many people are using AI for companionship — and the results are surprising
Not up for the gym? This 3-move ‘bodyweight blast’ builds full-body and core strength to brag about
5 best new movies to stream this weekend on Netflix, Prime Video, Peacock and more (June 28-29)
Tom’s Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
Terms and conditions
Contact Future’s experts
Privacy policy
Cookies policy
Accessibility Statement
Advertise with us
Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street,
Please login or signup to comment
Please wait…