Denise and Aaron stand by their truths and their stories, despite being constantly doubted. The police aggressively try to pin the crime onto Aaron and Denise, questioning them and telling the media a different story. A female police officer who won't let their case go is a positive role model.
Diverse Representations
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This series was created by women whose previous works follow true crime stories, and often focus on women who have been victimized by these crimes. There are transparent conversations criticizing the justice system and the police. The police officer who won't let the case go is a woman of color.
Themes of trust, relationships, and injustice are explored.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that American Nightmare is a short docuseries that follows the 2015 kidnapping case of Denise Huskins. After a home invasion and kidnapping, a couple are dismayed to find that the police say it's a hoax based on a recent movie and book. There are frequent discussions detailing abuse, violence, and sexual violence. Language includes strong repetitive use of "ass," "a--hole," "f--k," "hell," "pissed," and "s--t."
AMERICAN NIGHTMARE follows the story of the 2015 kidnapping case of Denise Huskins. When Aaron Quinn reports a home invasion that resulted in his girlfriend's disappearance, everyone is suspicious. Police want to blame Aaron, his family worries about his past, and Denise's family wants her back. But when Denise suddenly shows up hundreds of miles away, there are more accusations than there are answers. While the couple try to figure out who was behind all this, the police convince the media that everything is a hoax.
This series grows into an intriguing web of lies and betrayal. American Nightmare expertly brings viewers into this perplexing case, detail after harrowing detail. The story starts as a question of who to trust, but quickly brings the victims' point of view to the center. The strong language and discussions involving sexual assault and violence make this more suitable for older teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fiction versus reality presented in American Nightmare. The film Gone Girl is brought up repeatedly in this case. How are crime and violence depicted in the media? Why do you think it's shown this way? What effect does that have in the real world?
How did the police show up in this case? How did it make you feel? Why do you think they acted this way? How do you see this in today's justice system?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
