Nitro Video Rating:
PURCHASE THE DVD: American Crime (2004)

While stylish, sometimes humorous, and often clever, American Crime is no doubt a star-studded direct-to-video dust collector because of a lousy screenplay that’s high on concept, but low on character development. Rachel Leigh Cook, (sporting a rather drastic blonde dye job) plays a small town TV reporter who, along with her producer (Annabella Sciorra) and her lovestruck production assistant, discover evidence that a serial killer may be videotaping women before he murders them. Since the cops believe the tapes are nothing more than merely rape-fantasy pornography, it’s up to the intrepid trio to uncover the truth – especially when Cook’s character turns out to be the next target. Along for the ride as a sensationalistic “Unsolved Mysteries” style TV show host is a nearly unrecognizable Carey Elwes who’s fallen a long, LONG way from The Princess Bride.

While the cast certainly does their best and the visuals and editing are top notch, nothing can overpower the startling shortcomings and leaps of logic littering the screenplay. Ultimately, American Crime is uninvolving, and sometimes boring, cinema.

Also starring Playboy Playmate Julie Cialini and Cya Batten.

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen, NTSC
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
• Studio: Live / Artisan
• DVD Release Date: February 8, 2005
• Run Time: 95 minutes