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