Customer Reviews

American Nightmare

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

A sublime and subtle movie that brings out the chills rather than the gore. AMERICAN NIGHTMARE is a welcome change of pace from the hack-and-slash (which I also enjoy) that usually dominate the horror genre. First time director Jon Keeyes did his homework and learned from the directors and artists who came before him, putting the emphasis on mood and character rather than gouts of Kayro blood.

By now, the plot has been well established - killer with an unknowable motive is stalking seven friends on Halloween, their deaths set to the tune of an amoral shock disc jockey. All the reasons to love this movie are the same reasons others will hate it. Those raised on a steady diet of gore - and trendy psychos spouting Henny Youngman's greatest one-liners - will think the movie tedious and that, as a few have written...

The acting is terrific across the board, particularly, and she's been singled out in countless reviews, lead actress Debbie Rochon, who turns in a powerhouse performance as the mentally and emotionally gone Jane Toppan. She is present in every scene in the film, whether physically or as only a key element of menace.
Keeyes and company have added multiple layers of dread onto the narrative, resulting in near-claustrophobia. Occassionally, AMERICAN NIGHTMARE's modest budget allows the viewer to glimpse some seams, but all in all, this is a terrific film and well worth a couple of viewings.

Highly recommended.

Reviewing a movie is always a fun task, don't start thinking I'm a professional. I'm not, just look at my grammar. But I enjoy reviewing movies as an avid movie fan, so that other fans like me get the "real scoop" on a movie not the scoop Pepsi wants you to know. So with that said and you have an idea of where I am coming from...

So I watched American Nightmare after a friend told me to check it out. At first the acting was a little cheesy (first impression) Good use of lighting, it was actually creepy the way the director chose to use the lights, they fit right into the genre of movie. So even though the acting and the lines were somewhat cheesy at first I continued and oddly enough the lines and the acting fit into the theme and I couldn't stop watching. I felt myself understanding the characters more as if they were my friends, cause those cheesy lines...that's the same sh*& we say. I never really realized that movies portray to many punks, losers, hippies, surfers, jocks and cookie cutter geeks to the extreme form. My circle of friends consists of at least one or two of each of those and we all sound and talk "pretty much" the same, using the same words and phrases used in American Nightmare. So it wasn't really cheesy lines, it was an unexpected realism in a movie (imagine that!).

The killing scenes were realistic but not ultra-blood, ultra cheese. As a matter of fact I was surprised at the lack of gore in the the movie. If your expecting a gore flick, then change your expectations and watch it anyway. This is a movie that was made to send shivers down your spine and make you want to sleep with the lights on. So you ask, then why the title of this review. I went back and rented the original Friday the 13th, Halloween, Phsycho and a couple other classics and guess what...very similiar. Maybe a little more gore in a couple of those however, they were made by production companies. The were all similiar in the way that they don't attempt to scare you with the villian so much as to you weren't sure what the villian was going to do next, maybe come after you not with showing what the villian could do to you with special effects.

So here is the guts of my review. It's realistic, great lighting and sound and does a good job of making you think "what's going to happen next, do I need to turn on some lights". I have and will reccomend it to my friends, family and coworkers.

This is a fine example of what can be accomplished with a great vision, some great talent, and a low budget. This movie will make you have chills, laugh, and even...well, I'll let you find that part out yourselves. I would recommend this film to anyone that enjoys psychological thrillers, or horror in general. This has not been corrupted by the glam of Hollywood and the mass media industry, it's true to the director's initial visions and ideas, which makes it raw and true to life. I think what makes a great psyhchological thriller is it's ability to make you realize that the things that happen in the film could very well be happening next door, or across the street, or even to you. In a Psycho(Anthony Hopkins) kind of way, films that get under your skin as something that actually could happen are the true "horror" genre to come. The Freddies and Jasons were fun and all, but their time is past. If all we can get out of Hollywood is N'... and 97 degrees and Lucas, then I say issue everyone a camera, and get the most intense, intriguing, honest interpretations of life out there for the masses to view at their discretion. Down with the MPAA! Randysan

When I purchased this I had no idea of what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. Really cool film. Some great scary but not over the top seequences. Lighting was done really well. Acting was well above average for a low-budget film. Rochon is simply terrifying. Would have liked to have seen a bit more of Brinke Stevens but you can't have everything. Maybe we'll see that in the sequel.

American Nightmare is one of the best small budget movies I've ever seen. The look, and feel, of the movie is as good as any big budget film you're going to come across. The Director, Jon Keeyes, obviously takes a great deal of pride in his work, which comes shining through from beginning to end. And all of the cast do an equally fantastic job with their characters, and make you wish you could get to know them better before they are sent on their way by psycho nurse Jane Toppan. All the way around this is a movie that you need to check out. You'll be glad that you did.

This movie is one of those love-it-or-hate-it films. Yes, the film seems to copy a lot of elements of Halloween. But so what? Yes, certain scenes seem familiar, but the plot on the whole is pretty original and well done. I especially give kudos since the director of this movie didn't go to film school and just kind of did things his own way. That's something you've got to respect. Also, Debbie Rochon is wonderful as always; she's one of the best actresses out there today. Too bad mainstream Hollywood hasn't really used her to her full potential yet. Check this one out! :)

I personally thought this movie had a lot going for it. First off we have a great (female) killer with Debbie Rochon, who was shown as the killer in the first scene. The movie had many clichés, many scenes that directly reminded me of movies like Scream, Halloween, Friday The 13th, and even cheesy scenes that look like they were ripped right from Friends. The movie had a lot of action, suspense, blood, some boobs (courtesy of Debbie Rochon), humor, a very fitting and neat score, and a very well done, and well entertaining climax in the movie.


Some complaints that I had was the whole motive of Jane, and how she fit in with the group of friends. I thought a lot of it was far-fetched and unbelievable. But it is a movie, so I let it slide. One other thing was that the movie could have been a lot more violent and bloody. There were a lot of missed opportunities with it. Finally, the killer. I know she was supposed to be known right off the bat as the killer, but I would have much more preferred that anyone in the gang could be suspected.


I watched Suburban Nightmare before I watched this, and I really didn't care too much for it. The movie wasn't at all bad, I just didn't like the story. Buying this, and knowing it was written and directed by the same guy (John Keeyes) I expected the same style of movie. After watching it, I felt that the movie was not only much better than Suburban Nightmare, but better written, directed and with better actors. Debbie Rochon really set this movie apart, and made the movie great. Her masturbation with the knife scene was a bit unnecessary, but very warmly welcomed. I think this is one of her finest movies from start to finish. I would highly recommend this movie, especially to slasher fans and fans of Debbie.

I enjoy this movie. Its low budget and generally lowish quality acting, but I still enjoyed it. It has an atmospheric feel that I enjoy, somewhat eerie, but playfully fun too. I found this movie from Hallow's End, another one I especially enjoy (in a guilty pleasure kind of way).

i havent watched the movie yet. but i am definatly going to buy it. i was actually their when they made it i got to help work the smoke machine. we live right down the road from where it was filmed. so im hoping it is as good as i have heard it is from my point of view back then all i got to see was what was happening on the outside and people being running around outside. lol. if it was scary for you guys think what it will be like for us since the building is right down the road. lol.

I am a huge fan of actress Debbie Rochon and her work and I know I'm not the only one. She has being doing awesome acting in independent films for years and stands out in any role she is cast. Both American nightmare and her portrail of twisted killer Jane Toppan have won much praise and acclaim from audiences and rightfully so.

American Nightmare a well shot and all round well acted independant slasher film that is fresh and original and has clearly being crafted with love and care not seen in many indy films by the director. The film relies more on psycological horror rather than buckets of blood, which is terrible when it is done baddly but here it works brilliantly due to competant directing and Miss Rochon's amazing performance.

Debbie Rochon seems to completely dissappeare into her character, she done plenty of prep work and research to get into character and that is completely visble on screen. Occasionally Jane Toppan goes into a kind of psychotic outburst, I especially like these scenes the raw energy and anger is so genuine that we truely believe that what we are seeing is a disturbed murder.

The fact that we believe so much in the Jane Toppan character makes the film so very much more suspenseful to watch as she stalks and destroys her prey. The unfortunate victims are all nice looking completely innocent every day people, which makes as feel sorry for them as they are slain. So many slasher movies expect us to feel pity for the total jerk characters when they are mutliated by mask wearing indestructable killers, and thankfully American Nightmare is completely free of these common slasher cliches. All the actors are great and characters are fleshed out blelievably. After seeing the making of documentory I realise that this is due to a thorough casting process under taken by the director.

I guess that anyone who doesn't like this very cool and well made film has a problem with the some what abstract type ending. I personally liked it as it also doesn't have a quick fix now we can live happily ever after ending and also the surviving victims at the end of this film are visibly distraught, unlike other slashers where they are like happy "we got away" as though they forget about all their friends who were just killed the last couple of days. Also we get a gilmpse into the killers own life and heartache.

I must say that anyone who apperciates a well crafted and thought out horror film will enjoy american nightmare immensely. And words or at least my words, cannot completely praise the amazing performance of Debbie Rochon.