Dan Mintz Movies
A reporter might have to pay with her life for a big story in this independent crime drama. A small town is gripped with fear when a serial killer with an unusual way of doing his dirty work arrives on the scene. The killer stalks his victims for several days with a video camera before moving in for the kill -- and then sends a copy of the tape to his next victim. Jessie St. Clair (Rachael Leigh Cook) is an ambitious but inexperienced reporter working for a local television station who thinks covering this story could be a stepping stone to bigger things, and Jessie cynically milks the town's fear for all it's worth with the help of producer Jane Berger (Annabella Sciorra) and cameraman Rob (Kip Pardue). Jessie is upset to discover she has competition from Albert Bodine (Cary Elwes), who is covering the murders for a popular tabloid television series, but she soon has bigger things to worry about when she receives a video in the mail which indicates she's the killer's next intended target. American Crime was directed by Dan Mintz, who also served as cinematographer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Speed kills, but not as fast as malevolent ghosts, in this edgy horror/suspense opus. Thuggish Hector (Brad Hunt) and his girlfriend Dorena (Cyia Batten) are a pair of low-level drug dealers who are looking for a big score that will allow them to get out of the business. Hector has noticed that there's a big demand among his customers for "crystal meth," a powerful amphetamine; Dorena has learned how to make the stuff, so the couple steal the ingredients for a massive supply of crystal, and go into partnership with Hector's friend Merle (Patrick McGaw), who has found a big old house in the woods where they can "cook" and avoid the prying eyes of the police. Dorena decides it's prudent to make up all the crystal in one marathon cooking session, so she gets to work and Hector stands watch, using their own product when their energies begin to flag. However, Merle happens to mention a local legend that the house where they're cooking is haunted, and after several days of speed-fueled sleeplessness, Hector and Dorena aren't sure if they're hallucinating, or if there really are evil spirits ready to do them in. Cookers marked the feature film debut for director Dan Mintz. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brad Hunt, Cyia Batten, (more)
