Miniseries · Netflix
American Nightmare
No one would suspect the truth.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How American Nightmare actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
American Nightmare reads strongest on Bingeability, Character Depth and Serialized.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The story
What it's about
After a harrowing home invasion and kidnapping in 2015, a couple is accused of staging the ordeal when the woman reappears, haunting the couple with a new series of tortures.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E03
Part Three: The Others
More attempted kidnappings lead detectives to a new — and unexpected — suspect. Aaron and Denise go head-to-head with the Vallejo Police Department.
- Directed by Felicity Morris, Bernadette Higgins
- Written by Felicity Morris, Bernadette Higgins
S01E02
Part Two: Gone Girl
Days later, Denise reappears seemingly unharmed and recalls the details of her terrifying abduction as doubts from authorities begin to swirl.
- Directed by Felicity Morris, Bernadette Higgins
- Written by Felicity Morris, Bernadette Higgins
S01E01
Part One: The Boyfriend
In 2015, California couple Aaron Quinn and Denise Huskins were attacked at home during the night. After Denise was kidnapped, Aaron became a suspect.
- Directed by Felicity Morris, Bernadette Higgins
- Written by Felicity Morris, Bernadette Higgins
Recently aired
Latest Episodes
S01E01
Part One: The Boyfriend
- Directed by Felicity Morris, Bernadette Higgins
- Written by Felicity Morris, Bernadette Higgins
S01E02
Part Two: Gone Girl
- Directed by Felicity Morris, Bernadette Higgins
- Written by Felicity Morris, Bernadette Higgins
S01E03
Part Three: The Others
- Directed by Felicity Morris, Bernadette Higgins
- Written by Felicity Morris, Bernadette Higgins
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Dan HallProducer
- Felicity MorrisProducer
- Fiona StourtonExecutive Producer
- Bernadette HigginsProducer
- Rebecca NorthExecutive Producer
Writing
- Felicity MorrisWriter
- Bernadette HigginsWriter
Direction
- Felicity MorrisDirector
- Bernadette HigginsDirector
Cinematography
- Stefano FerrariDirector of Photography
Music
- Jessica JonesOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- NetflixStreaming
- Netflix Standard with AdsStreaming
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