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AMERICAN NIGHTMARE (1983)
Directed by Don McBrearty
Media Home Entertainment VHS
Reviewed 06.28.07
Review by Joseph A. Ziemba
THE FILM
Did you know that they have funerals
for hookers? The upliftment begins.
I've always considered Night
Warning to be the feel-bad
slasher of 1983. Homophobic cops,
an incestuous Aunt, guilt-ridden
sex; it's a tough slump to beat.
Then, along comes the gritty American
Nightmare. When a son accosts
his father with "That's you
-- FUCKING YOUR OWN DAUGHTER!",
it's blatantly clear that the depression
ante has been upped. Thank goodness
there are plenty of strippers grinding
on disgusting plywood floors. Those
kinds of things make me feel much
better.
It's an American Nightmare! Filmed
in Toronto! When a hooker named
Tanya is murdered by some jerk with
rubber gloves (and a towel), it's
up to her brother Eric to seek revenge.
Eric is a famous pop-pianist, but
he also enjoys ripping the ears
off of muggers and falling in love
with strippers. Smoke 'em if you
got 'em. Soon, Eric dives into the
skanky world of porn shops, strip
clubs, fraudulent businessmen, underground
sex tapes, the previously mentioned
incest, drug addiction, a guy named
"Mr. Fixer", and of course,
transvestites. The killer adds a
bowling hat to his repertoire and
a needless subplot involving another
stripper and her disapproving boyfriend
goes nowhere. Kiss these grits.
Produced by Ray Sager, The Wizard
Of Gore himself, American
Nightmare hits the ground running.
It's drab, abrasive, and pulsing
with unsanitary visuals. The kill
scenes unsettle. The dark photography
and solemn piano soundtrack work
towards a unified bleakness. There's
a time and a place for this type
of downbeat attitude and this is
it. However, unlike the somewhat
similar, yet more confident Driller
Killer, Nightmare
quickly short-hands itself with
dull disinterest. Actors can't carry
the themes. Strip scenes pad like
there's no tomorrow. The killer
disappears during the last half
of the film. But hey, lighten up!
There's always that father-daughter
sex tape to keep you believin'.
American Nightmare. Not
as fun as a hooker's funeral, but
pretty damn close.
AUDIO AND VIDEO
Contrary to popular belief, strip
clubs do have functioning toilets.
I know, because this print has "Property
Of Boobs
Disco" written all over
it. Dingy, dark, color deficient,
and harboring a serious sound effect
issue (I.E., they're too loud),
American Nightmare's presentation
mirrors its demeanor. Bummer.
EXTRAS
The killer gives a speech at the
end. I was zoned out.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Positively unsanitary! The dismayed
American Nightmare does
a lot right, but just can't pull
ahead. Placing more concentration
on scummy atmosphere than self-assured
slashing, the net result is an ugly,
draining ordeal. You can probably
skip this one.
Thanks to Eric Robitaille for
providing a copy of this film! |
The Leg Motel, Toronto
Plumber's nightmare
Watch me when I strip
The dumps
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