Tom Pelphrey exudes phlegm like a narcissistic con man turned cold-blooded killer. American killer is based on the true story of Jason Derek Brown, a notorious fugitive who spent years on the FBI’s most wanted list. Brown lied, cheated and stole to finance his extravagant lifestyle. He portrayed himself as a wealthy businessman, but was nothing more than a thief and swindler. Brown could cry on request and used sympathy as a primary tool. American killer overwhelms with horror at his abhorrent behavior. It has interesting elements, but significant flaws. The constant use of flashbacks adds a layer of confusion that stumbles the story.
The film opens in 2004 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Brown (Pelphrey) cries as he pawns an engagement ring and an expensive watch. His behavior changes to a grin when the owner looks away. While they are negotiating the price, Brown sees a car full of crooks pull up in the parking lot. He quickly settles in and runs out the back door. Next, we meet FBI agent Lance Leising (Ryan Philippe). He searches an empty house before turning around. Melanie (Idina Menzel), a real estate agent who lived literally across the street, claimed she hadn’t seen Brown since he left on a six-month lease.
Eighteen months earlier, Brown moved in with a plethora of expensive toys and a Cadillac SUV. Melanie was immediately struck by his muscular physique and brash confidence. She lies to Leising about the nature of their relationship. Melanie had torrid sexual contacts with Brown. He was kind to her son and became his hero. She refused to believe Leising’s account of Brown’s crime.
Leising interviews Brown’s sister, Jamie (Shantel VanSanten). She talks about the disappearance of their father (Kevin Corrigan) ten years earlier. Brown and their oldest brother, David Sr. (Paul Schneider), helped him escape from the authorities. Another flashback shows Brown as a child enamored with his father’s lawlessness. It laid the foundation for a man who loved the thrill of cheating, but gambled foolishly. He became indebted to gangsters and was forced to extreme measures.
American killer copies American Psycho
American killer copies american psychopath in Brown’s image. He trains feverishly while admiring his chiseled body. Leising watches videos of a wagging Brown sniffing around with girls half-naked and sniffing drugs. The film is full of vignettes of Brown as a bastard. He’s partying in strip clubs and bars with stolen credit cards. His arrogance charmed the victims. These are the best scenes. Brown was a proud exploiter. Pelphrey does a good job as an unrelenting rogue.
American killer needed to strengthen the supporting ensemble. Philippe’s Leising looks like a crime-fighting robot. His dry delivery undermines the character of the personality. Leising was obsessed with hunting Brown, but has no emotion whatsoever. Menzel, a great theater actress, lacks depth as a single mother who is duped. Jackie Weaver, who plays Brown’s mother, plays a substantive role, but only appears in two scenes.
The film’s biggest problem is its structure. Writer/director Matthew Gentile hops with the times in his feature film debut. Leising operates in the present, Brown in the past, with Melanie and his relatives in both. I missed a magazine caption and was baffled as to why the scene changed. What happened is not complicated. It’s puzzling why Gentile chose to present it as such. Brown is still on the run. I wonder if he would be confused by his own story.
American killer is a production of The Traveling Picture Show Company and Gigi Films. It will hit theaters on October 21. Followed by a streaming premiere on October 28 from Saban movies.