American Nightmare (2002) - Synopsis

American Nightmare (2002) - synopsis imageA pirate radio show. A serial killer. Seven friends. Fear. Each are the elements of a deadly game of cat-and-mouse when a serial killer targets a group of friends and begins carrying out their worst fears.

Set on Halloween, the pirate radio show "American Nightmare" is broadcasting from dusk till dawn. In lavish form, the cynical and sadistic host has invited listeners to call in and share their worst fears while he commemorates the massacre of four college students from the year before.

At a local cafe, seven friends have gathered for dinner before heading out for an evening of Halloween merriment. With "American Nightmare" playing in the cafe, each takes a turn calling in with their fears. But unbeknownst to them, a killer is lurking nearby - a killer who has woven a horrifying trap to begin visiting each of their fears upon them.

As the evening proceeds, the group of friends split up. Jessie, an intelligent and caring lady, will spend the evening babysitting. Wayne, a computer aficionado, will spend the evening at the cafe playing on the internet. And the rest of this eclectic band are headed to one of the city's biggest Halloween parties.

But the killer has already begun her game . . .

She begins killing the friends one by one throughout the night. She begins calling into the radio show and taunting the listeners with her desires. She begins flirting with Wayne on his computer. She begins to hunt and taunt Jessie whose sister she had killed the year before in the college massacre.

And then her plan comes to a head. Using the radio show as the means of communication, she forces Jessie and Wayne to confront her before she continues to kill. Together, they must face the killer and face their greatest fears.

American Nightmare is a psychological thriller delving into the many horrifying elements hidden in our minds, or sitting like a boogeyman behind every dark window. It revels in our greatest fears and brings them to life. Using pop culture, stylish music, and a bit of black comedy, American Nightmare is an ode to terror and a look into the dark psyche of America.