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American Nightmare

  • Video
  • 2002
  • R
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
3.8/10
712
YOUR RATING
American Nightmare (2002)
Horror

A deranged female serial killer stalks seven young people whom phone a radio call-in show to discuss their darkest fears and a night-long game of cat-and-mouse is put into motion by the dark... Read allA deranged female serial killer stalks seven young people whom phone a radio call-in show to discuss their darkest fears and a night-long game of cat-and-mouse is put into motion by the darkly sinister-looking murderess.A deranged female serial killer stalks seven young people whom phone a radio call-in show to discuss their darkest fears and a night-long game of cat-and-mouse is put into motion by the darkly sinister-looking murderess.

  • Director
    • Jon Keeyes
  • Writer
    • Jon Keeyes
  • Stars
    • Debbie Rochon
    • Brandy Little
    • Johnny Sneed
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    3.8/10
    712
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jon Keeyes
    • Writer
      • Jon Keeyes
    • Stars
      • Debbie Rochon
      • Brandy Little
      • Johnny Sneed
    • 34User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos28

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    Top cast36

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    Debbie Rochon
    Debbie Rochon
    • Jane Toppan
    Brandy Little
    Brandy Little
    • Jessie McClain
    Johnny Sneed
    Johnny Sneed
    • Wayne Holcomb
    Chris Ryan
    • Caligari
    Robert McCollum
    Robert McCollum
    • Tony Collins
    Kristin McCollum
    • Cynthia Collins
    Heather Haase
    • Melanie Ryan
    Kenyon Holmes
    Kenyon Holmes
    • Bruce Miller
    Rebecca Stacey
    • Misty McClain
    Kimberly Grant
    Kimberly Grant
    • Trisha McClain
    • (as Kimberly Deanne Morgan)
    Hayden Tweedie
    • Deanna
    Scott Phillips
    • Rick
    Brinke Stevens
    Brinke Stevens
    • Lisa
    Michael H. Price
    • Stan
    Jessica Reed
    • Leanne
    Bill Sebastian
    Bill Sebastian
    • Tom
    Zane Michael Scott
    • Nick
    Ben Jackson
    • Steve
    • Director
      • Jon Keeyes
    • Writer
      • Jon Keeyes
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews34

    3.8712
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    Featured reviews

    cmohan

    ILLOGICAL Movie without a PLOT....

    I was wondering at the end of the movie as whether I have missed any scenes....did not understand...the motive for the killer is not established well...

    The whole story revolves around a party and it is very hard to believe that no one sees/hears the murders and the screaming...the killer gets away easily after the murders which is totally illogical...

    Music was not synchronized with the scenes. I am quite puzzled as who the resort owner is and his relationship with the killer. I also do not know why the Killer cried at the end..quite funny

    Not worth the money - 50 rupees (approximately 1 USD)...I would rate 1/10...
    4claudio_carvalho

    With a Better Beginning and Conclusion, This Weird Story Would Be a Good Low Budget Movie

    In Texas, seven friends meet in a bar to celebrate the Halloween night before going to a party. Meanwhile, they call the American Nightmare pirate radio for fun and confess their innermost fears. A serial killer, who is listening to their confessions, makes their nightmares come true, killing each one of them in a sadistic way. "American Nightmare" is a weird low budget movie that has a horrible beginning: without any previous explanation, a woman kills two couples in an isolated camping area, as if it were Friday, 13th. Then, the story shifts to a bar, where seven friends are celebrating Halloween. From this moment on, the story has a great potential, and the unknown cast has a very reasonable performance, showing also some beautiful breasts and naked bodies, as usual in this type of C production. However, the end of the screenplay does not provide any explanation for the killing instinct and motives for the behavior of the nurse Jane Toppan, giving the sensation that the budget ended before the finalization of the shooting. With a better beginning and conclusion, this weird story would be a good low budget slasher movie. My vote is four.

    Title (Brazil): "Agonia" ("Agony")
    5lastliberal

    This is my game. We're gonna play by my goddamn rules!

    You can have the shower scene in Psycho, if you want, but I will take Rebecca Stacey anytime. The Psycho scene is her greatest fear and she joins six of her friends who express what they fear the most while a killer (Debbie Rochon) is listening in.

    "Don't you get lonely" Sure, I do, Debbie, and you can tie me up and do your stuff and I will die a happy man.

    But, I wasn't real happy with what I thought was going to be a slasher flick, and it turned out to just be a mind game.

    The ending was weird, too. But Debbie Rochon was pretty much in the whole picture, so it was a treat.
    gurl_amy

    I thought it sounded good yeah, but then i watched it. I recommend it if you want a good laugh!

    I was very disappointed with this film and did not think it was even worth the £4.50 i paid to rent it out! I think it should have been in the comedy section as i spent most of the film either laughing because it was so rubbish, or fast-forwarding through all the slow, tedious parts. The music did not at all fit in with the film and i felt embarrassed to watch it - for the actors and for the producers. I am not sure if any one else noticed, but when she shot her sister (who was then dead), she somehow still had enough life in her to blink about 3 or 4 times!!! What is with that? You would think that when they watched it back someone would notice and maybe edit it out??? Or better still get a better actress, but then again taking a look at the rest of the film i guess not. I take into consideration that the writer my have had a good idea - pity it didn't turn out that way!
    Alei3

    VERY BAD (and not in a good way)

    My friends and I rented American Nightmare expecting that it would be pretty cheesy. In fact, we have spent many weekends watching (and enjoying)cheesy horror films that are obscure, usually for good reasons. However, American Nightmare was probably the worst movie I have seen in a long, long time. Now, there are horror movies that are so bad they are good because they are funny. (Evil Dead is a great example) After a while, American Nightmare wasn't even funny anymore. The plot didn't make any sense AT ALL, and although most of the actors were fairly decent (and that might be a stretch), the dialogue was so poorly written we spent more time laughing at what they were saying than watching their performances. (one of my favorites- "Go to www.I killed your friends.com"- and yes, there was a web site by that title in the film, but it never got explained) At first I hoped that the bad script was just tongue in cheek due to the whole, predictable concept... but it's doubtful after watching it progress. The film is just taken very seriously by it's actors/director for what it actually is. The beginning of the film- the flashback to the original killing spree- starts a trend in the movie of just not making ANY sense. Although I fully believe that audiences should not have things spelled out for them, a little help would have been nice to make the movie watchable. The movie played on every cliche in the horror movie book (the characters, needless nudity, really typical scenes), which if used properly can make for a pretty decent(funny)film. But as the movie employed every bad horror film technique there is, it also tried desperately hard to be an "artsy" or "innovative" film, by not explaining the murderer's motives at all, and then giving a "twist" ending that didn't answer any questions. The whole thing seemed like a bunch of poorly made movies seared together without any explanations. If we don't know anything about these people, why should we care? You never find out why the murderer is killing this lady's friends, and the "she's just psychotic" thing doesn't work. (even with a really bizarre knife scene) If motives were given, I missed them due to the poor audio quality in some parts. The really standard sound effects were not very balanced with the dialogue. This movie lacked organization, A PLOT, characterization, creativity, and was really over the top and melodramatic. (and it didn't resolve anything) It just sucked, very badly. My friends have made more developed, interesting movies on a cam-corder in the middle of the night. Watching a marshmellow in the microwave is more climatic. And on a technical note, most of the lighting was so strange, it just made the whole thing even worse. AVOID THIS FILM. It's not even good for a laugh.

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    Related interests

    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The killer is based on a real-life female serial killer named Jane Toppan (1857-1938) a Boston-born nurse whom murdered at least 30 people (mostly hospital patients) in the New England area from the mid-1880s to 1901.
    • Goofs
      During the opening scene where the killer chases the characters through the woods the shadow of a cameraman with his camera is clearly visible against a well lit tree.
    • Quotes

      Jane Toppan: Death has come to your little fuckin' town, Melanie!

    • Crazy credits
      Andrew Magnus credited as Holistic CPA
    • Connections
      Features Halloween (1978)
    • Soundtracks
      A Lullabye for Eden
      Written by The Mag 7

      Performed by The Mag 7

      Courtesy of Idol Records

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 29, 2002 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Американский кошмар
    • Filming locations
      • Cleburne, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Highland Myst Entertainment
      • Highland Myst Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $56,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 31m(91 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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