American Nightmare (1984)

Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

One has to wonder why the makers of this film would dub it "American Nightmare" when in fact it's 100% Canadian, showing that those of us in the Great White North have what it takes to make dark and depressing trash cinema.The story is admittedly similar to that in the George C. Scott vehicle "Hardcore": a young man named Eric (Lawrence Day) frantically searches for his kid sister after having received a plea for help from her. This leads Eric into the underworld of Toronto (all shot on authentic seedy Toronto locations), including stop offs at a strip club. The characters, by and large, are kinky if not dangerous, and by the end there's going to be one hell of a disgusting revelation.Directed in a straightforward manner by Don McBrearty, the film can boast Canadian genre icon Paul Lynch (director of "Prom Night", "Humongous", and "Bullies") as one of the executive producers and none other than the original Wizard of Gore, Ray Sager, as the producer. Now, of course it's not going to be for all tastes, but those who enjoy the sleazy and sordid in movies are sure to get a kick out of the various goings on. Enhanced by a subtle Paul Zaza score, the movie does immerse one in its ambiance and tells a reasonably interesting tale that also involves Erics' strained relationship with his fat cat father Hamilton (Tom Harvey).Among the cast are Alexandra Paul ("Christine", 'Baywatch') in her first feature as the ill-fated sibling, Lenore Zann ("Happy Birthday to Me", "Visiting Hours") and Claudia Udy ("Savage Dawn", "Edge of Sanity") as strippers, Page "The Hitchhiker" Fletcher as Mark, Larry Aubrey as drag queen Dolly, and the always welcome Michael Ironside, who's unfortunately wasted in a boring part as the investigating detective. Day is unbearably stiff as the determined hero, but Lora Staley is appealing as the roommate who helps him in his journey and with whom he becomes smitten.The whole thing is pretty crude and reeks of cheapness, but it's still got good moments. For one thing, McBrearty and company know that you can never have too many strip numbers in a movie, and for another, there is one effective stalking / suspense sequence featuring Zann as she tries to defend herself with a pitchfork.Worth a look for hardcore enthusiasts of exploitation.Seven out of 10.

The fact that this one isn't easy to catch over here I was able to find me a copy. I thought it would be so creepy as Visiting Hours 'cause Ironside was involved, but he just plays a copper and nothing more. Is it scary, sometimes it has his moments but overall it's more about naked girls. But here the girls are in it for the nakedness and nothing more. Both main actresses have their strip act (eat your heart out Demi Moore) and that's the reason most viewers want to see this one. I watched it and after a few days i was already forgotten the plot of this movie, watchable, yes, gore or bloody, not that many. And don't do it for the sake of Ironside, you will be disappointed.

Despite what the title states, the movie actually takes place in Toronto. Though like most Canadian movies, it is hesitant to say where it's actually taking place - you have to look for clues, such as seeing part of the CN Tower in the background during the final sequence.As for the movie itself, it's pretty poor overall. It's relentlessly padded, with only a few turns in the story itself. Much of the movie consists of people talking, or to showcase the abundant nudity. Though that latter element may sound like it makes the movie worth watching, it's actually drearily presented, without it being the least erotic.In fact, every location in the movie comes across as degenerate and filthy - never have I seen Toronto bathed in such an unflattering light. Actually, it's a change of pace for a Canadian movie, and with the movie taking place in a sleazy part of society, it seems somewhat appropriate. Though I'm sure this wasn't intentional, because this was a really low budget movie (only a $200,000 budget - Canadian dollars!), and the production values certainly show it, most notably the lack of adequate lighting.To be fair, the slasher sequences aren't that bad - the squalid locations and the dark lighting actually give them some atmosphere, and the direction of these sequences show a little imagination (unlike the hopeless direction elsewhere.) And the movie does give B movie fans a chance to see Michael Ironside in not just an early role, but one that gives him the rare opportunity to play a good guy. Aside from those things, the movie is probably only of interest to people interested in Canadian tax shelter movies of this era.

While the 1981 slasher film AMERICAN NIGHTMARE is not a classic by any means, it stands out from most of its contemporaries. This is because it seems to be much more influenced by the Italian "giallo" films (mystery-thrillers featuring flashy gore sequences) than by the teen-oriented slasher films which were produced in great numbers in Canada and the United States during the late 1970s and early 1980s. If you're simply looking for dumb teens getting killed off by masked madmen, you should stay away from AMERICAN NIGHTMARE. The film's plot concerns musician Eric Blake (Lawrence Day), who is trying to find his runaway sister who has disappeared into the sleazy world of stripping and prostitution in Toronto. At the same time a slasher is on the loose, targeting those involved in Toronto's sex industry in a twisted scheme to rid the world of "moral degenerates."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 ****