American Nightmare (1983): Cast & Plot
American Nightmare is a 1983 horror thriller directed by Don McBrearty, starring Alexandra Paul as Isabelle / Tanya, Lenore Zann and Lawrence Day. It runs 1 hour 28 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 28m (88 min)
- Director
- Don McBrearty
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Manesco Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is American Nightmare About?
The premise of American Nightmare without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Each year hopeful young women flock to the city chasing their dreams, only to face deadly risks. When one sister disappears, her brother teams with the missing woman's roommate to investigate. Their search uncovers a dark underworld of prostitution, incest, blackmail and murder.
American Nightmare Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- incestuous sex
- older brother younger sister relationship
- sister murdered
- stripper
- strip club
- murder of a nude woman
- sex scene
- serial killer
- canadian giallo
- large breasts
- female topless nudity
- female rear nudity
+38 more Show fewer
- father daughter sex
- suicide
- father daughter incest
- slasher
- sleaze
- canuxploitation
- neo noir
- giallo
- sleazy giallo
- man kisses a woman's breasts
- father has sex with daughter
- twisted father daughter relationship
- female star appears topless
- topless woman
- teenage daughter
- sex with daughter
- sex tape
- man wrapped in a towel
- latex gloves
- straight razor
- assumed name
- runaway teenage girl
- topless dancing
- woman wears a g string
- women's dressing room
- sexploitation
- naked juggling
- pianist
- woman wears only a man's shirt
- woman wears only panties
- wealthy father
- gay character
- sleuthing
- polaroid photo
- character appears on a magazine cover
- deep cleavage
- woman in a bathtub
- female full rear nudity
American Nightmare Cast & Characters
Alexandra Paul leads the cast as Isabelle / Tanya, with Lenore Zann as Tina / stripper and Lawrence Day as Eric (as Lawrence S. Day). Directed by Don McBrearty; 17 actors are credited in all.
- Director Don McBrearty
- Alexandra Paul as Isabelle / Tanya
- Lenore Zann as Tina / stripper
- Lawrence Day as Eric (as Lawrence S. Day)
- Larry Aubrey as Dolly / Isabelle's neighbor
Also Starring in American Nightmare
· 13 more- Tom Harvey Hamilton / Eric and Isabelle's father
- Lora Staley Louise / Isabelle's workmate
- Claudia Udy Andrea / Isabelle's workmate
- Neil Dainard Tony / Hamilton's right-hand
- Michael Copeman Fixer / Isabelle's pimp (as Mike Copeman)
- Michael Ironside Sgt. Skylar (as Mike Ironside)
- Peter Lavender Wally
- Paul Bradley Motel Manager
- Martin Doyle Tanner (as Marty Doyle)
- Page Fletcher Mark / Tina's boyfriend
- Bunty Webb Operator
- Don MacQuarrie Mugger
- Nancy Oliver Marie
More from Don McBrearty
More films directed by Don McBrearty: Royally Yours, This Christmas, Christmas on Windmill Way, The Fabric of Christmas and Zoe’s Having a Baby.
American Nightmare Plot Summary
What happens in American Nightmare from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 6-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the freezing heart of winter, in a sprawling, unnamed American city, Isabelle Alexandra Paul—a stripper living under the alias “Tanya”—is quietly trying to endure a night that will unravel into a chain of violence and hidden loyalties. She puffs on a joint on a cheap hotel bed, while one client finishes in the bathroom. A man, unseen at the sink, slides on latex gloves, and when he reappears, the room fills with a sudden, brutal stillness. The killer, wearing only a towel and those gloves, closes the distance and ends Isabelle’s life with a series of merciless throat slashes.
Full summary
The whole story of American Nightmare, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know American Nightmare?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actress portrays the stripper Isabelle?
American Nightmare Also Known As
6 alternative titles, including “Un cauchemar américain” and “Amerikan painajainen”.
- Also known as
-
- Un cauchemar américain
- Amerikan painajainen
- Pesadilla americana
- Amerikan Kabusu
- 美国噩梦
- Американский кошмар
Seen American Nightmare?
Movies Like American Nightmare
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Nightmare, The American Nightmare and Nightmares Come at Night.
American Nightmare FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of American Nightmare, each answered in a sentence.
How long is American Nightmare?
American Nightmare runs 1 hour 28 minutes (88 minutes).
When was American Nightmare released?
American Nightmare was released on March 17, 1983.
Who directed American Nightmare?
American Nightmare was directed by Don McBrearty.
More films by Don McBrearty Who is in the cast of American Nightmare?
American Nightmare stars Alexandra Paul as Isabelle / Tanya, Lenore Zann as Tina / stripper and Lawrence Day as Eric (as Lawrence S. Day), among 17 credited actors.
Does American Nightmare have a post-credit scene?
No. American Nightmare has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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