Zeman’s and Brancaccio’s objective was to bring the distinct elements into one overarching narrative: the oral tradition of urban legends, the mystery of several missing children from the region, the courtroom drama, the search for the roots of Staten Island's obsession with the case, and the community's need for catharsis.

Andre Rand's court case in 2004 did not start until four years after his indictment, which was one of the longest pre-trial motions in New York State history.

"[1] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

[2] After the 2009 premier, programmer David Kwok stated: “the eeriness of the mystery pulsates through the film as they journey into the underbelly… as more information and clues unravel, Zeman and Brancaccio become more immersed in shocking surprises and revelations.

"[4] Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times called it "Disturbing and flavorful", praising the film's use of archival footage, interviews, and "true-crime narrative".

"[9] Since its release, Cropsey has been featured on numerous lists of best true crime and horror documentaries by major publications, such as The New Yorker, The Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, A.V.