A man investigates the disappearance of his sister with the help of her roommate. He uncovers a trail of prostitution, incest, blackmail...and murder.A man investigates the disappearance of his sister with the help of her roommate. He uncovers a trail of prostitution, incest, blackmail...and murder.A man investigates the disappearance of his sister with the help of her roommate. He uncovers a trail of prostitution, incest, blackmail...and murder.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Eric
- (as Lawrence S. Day)
- Sgt. Skylar
- (as Mike Ironside)
- Fixer
- (as Mike Copeman)
- …
- Tanner
- (as Marty Doyle)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
American Nightmare is a hard to find gritty 80's slasher filmed in my hometown of Toronto in Canada. The film starts with a young prostitute being viciously murdered by an unknown assailant. We quickly meet her brother Eric who is trying to find out who killed her. Along his journey we meet a very likeable transvestite named Dolly and some of his friends who work at the nearby strip club, one of which is named Louise. Eric takes an instant liking to her and works with her to discover the identity of his sisters killer.
American Nightmare is so filthy of a slasher film, you'll need to take a shower afterwards. We get trashy nudity and a script which includes very homophobic dialogue at times. It definitely feels like the depths of low down Toronto in the 80's. The death scenes (mostly stabbings) are extremely realistic and not just because of the special effects and blood. There is a brutality to them which makes it feel very real. The identity of the killer was shocking to me and there was backstory told that felt a tad rushed and a little nonsensical. That was a weak point for me for sure.
The acting is nothing great in this one, mostly unknown Canadian actors. Most notably include scream queen Lenore Zann and well known actor Michael Ironside who have very small parts. For people who know Toronto, you'll see some very familiar filming locations such as the CN Tower, downtown Yonge Street, and some office buildings around the CNE/Exhibition Grounds.
I appreciate American Nightmare for what it is. A cheap Canadian slasher flick from the 1980's that has some extremely tense moments with the killer and their victims. It isn't a must see horror film, but I would watch it if you get the chance. It gets a 6/10 for me for it's chase scenes involving the killer and it's overall decaying/depressing atmosphere.
6/10
This film was obviously made on a very low budget, and that limits its ability to look like a giallo. It is poorly filmed and dimly lit in most scenes. While the gore scenes are competently done, they lack the visual style that is the hallmark of the giallo. Simply stated, AMERICAN NIGHTMARE lacks the vivid colors and visual flair that are typically found in the best giallo films by directors such as Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci.
At the same time, AMERICAN NIGHTMARE is not worthless either. The film has a serious, grim tone, which I think is appropriate given the unpleasantness of the material. The acting is competently done. The low budget and on-location filming in Toronto also gives the film a gritty, realistic feel. Also, despite the fact that this film is extremely obscure, there are some notable cast members. Veteran character actor Michael Ironside, seen most recently in THE PERFECT STORM, portrays a detective investigating the murders in one of his earlier film roles. And oddly enough, this is the feature film debut of Alexandra Paul, who at barely age 18 appears nude in the film, in what surely is not one of her prouder moments.
This film is worth a look for fans of slasher films, but it must be noted that it is very hard to find. I believe the film is best viewed as a mild companion piece to Fulci's superior THE NEW YORK RIPPER.
** out of ****
Did you know
- TriviaAlexandra Paul was dating lead actor Lawrence Day at the time that she acted in this film.
- Quotes
Eric: That's how you cared for her? That's how you loved her? You bastard!
Hamilton: For god's sake, you don't understand.
Eric: How long, father? How long?
Hamilton: I don't know. It started 5 or 6 years after your mother died. I loved her, Brink. She was my only weakness. My weakness. She tried to blackmail me.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Katarina's Nightmare Theater: American Nightmare (2012)
- How long is American Nightmare?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- CA$200,000 (estimated)