On March 23rd 2015, in Vallejo, California, Aaron Quinn makes a phone call to 911. During the call he claims someone came into his house in the night, tied him up, sedated him, and kidnapped his girlfriend Denise Huskins.
A short while later, the police arrive at Aaron’s house, take a look around the property, then drive him to the police station. Aaron is interviewed by an officer, where he recounts details of his ordeal.
During the conversation Aaron tells the officer he believes Denise’s kidnapping was a mistake. The kidnapper was targeting his ex-girlfriend Andrea, but as Andrea doesn’t live in the house anymore, the kidnapper decided to take Denise instead and hold her for ransom.
After recounting his story, the police begin to search for Denise. However, they are not convinced Aaron is telling the truth, and he may be the person responsible for Denise’s disappearance and possibly her death.
But things take an unexpected turn when Denise suddenly reappears. Was the kidnapping real or did Aaron or Denise stage the incident, and if so, for what reason?
Written, directed, and produced by Felicity Morris and Bernadette Higgins, American Nightmare is a documentary series which is new to Netflix from today. The series is divided into three parts with the first episode titled The Boyfriend, the second titled Gone Girl, and the third titled The Others.
The first instalment focuses on Denise’s kidnapping, the police investigation, and the suspicion surrounding Aaron. For the vast majority of this episode, the police believe Aaron may have killed Denise, or at the very least have orchestrated her kidnapping.
The second episode looks at the events which transpired after Denise was taken, including her interactions with the kidnapper, as well as incidents of sexual assault. It also details her release and return, as well as the ongoing police investigation with the suggestion she could be behind it all.
As for the third and final episode, this centres around further details to do with the kidnapping and the investigation including an arrest. The idea of a hoax begins to be dismissed, as a new suspect is brought into the frame and questions are then asked about the handling of the case by law enforcement officers.
The circumstances surrounding the kidnapping of Denise Huskins are both intriguing and deeply disturbing. The idea of someone coming into your home and taking you or your loved one is frightening stuff and the possibility of foul play from a trusted partner makes it even worse.
As such, the initial episode of American Nightmare is very strong. The suspicion cast over Aaron’s story suggests this documentary could be about a murder, with the prime suspect telling an almost unimaginable tale.
However, as the series moves into episodes two and three, American Nightmare loses a bit of its momentum. The whole situation is bizarre and awful, this is never up for debate, but the way the story is hyped and sensationalised, often comparing it to the 2014 movie Gone Girl makes it appear to be something different to what it is.
Of course, it’s important to note the series tells a real-life story, so the docu-series is only reflecting true events. In reality, the media compared Denise’s kidnapping to Gone Girl, so the docu-film isn’t fabricating this element of the story.
However, because the first episode goes big, and sets the idea of an elaborate hoax in the mind, when things become clearer in episodes two and three, the series struggles to maintain the exact same level of mystery. That said, there is still some very important, very unsettling revelations in these next two chapters which keeps things moving forward.
Does this make for absorbing viewing? At times yes, but not always.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, it’s difficult to talk about true-life crime when it is being used for the purposes of entertainment. The kidnapping of Denise Huskins happened, and there were real victims involved, so weighing up the story in terms of whether or not it’s something decent to watch while you’re eating your dinner is an odd thing indeed.
What I can say is that in terms of the case, it’s horrible. It is awful that it happened, that Aaron Quinn and Denise Huskins went through this ordeal, and that things like this are a reality of life.
However, in terms of American Nightmare as a docu-series, while it’s interesting and worth a watch, I don’t believe it is an amazing piece of television. There’s something about the way in which the story is laid out on screen which creates a bit of a disconnect at times.
Spreading the story over three episodes, lasting around 135 minutes in total is a bit too much, and I’d argue it would probably work better as a 90-minute docu-film. Cut back on some of the suggestions this is a murder case or a hoax, and the story would flow better.
Sure, the murder and hoax angles need to be included, as these are key elements of this case. But building entire episodes around these subjects, and dragging them out for 45 minutes at a time is frustrating when the truth about the kidnapping finally comes to light in episode three.
American Nightmare is going to appeal to fans of true crime documentaries, and it is important to highlight Aaron and Denise’s harrowing story. If something like this should happen again, then perhaps those involved in the investigation, as well as those in the media, will remember this series and be less quick to judge.
But I’m not convinced this three-part docu-series is the best way to tell this story. So, while American Nightmare is fine to watch, it’s not the best example of a must-see true crime series on Netflix.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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