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American Murderer

American Murderer

Crime · Drama · 2022

The True story of how charismatic con man Jason Derek Brown bankrolls his extravagant lifestyle through a series of scams. On Brown’s trail: Lance Leising, a dogged FBI special agent determined to put Brown behind bars. When Brown’s funds run low and his past catches up with him, he plots his most elaborate scheme yet, pitting himself against Leising in a deadly game of cat and mouse — and becoming the most unlikely and elusive fugitive on the FBI’s most-wanted list.

Movie details

American Murderer

“Based on the incredible true crime story.”

2022 Crime · Drama 1h 41m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

5.9 / 10

Community rating

The True story of how charismatic con man Jason Derek Brown bankrolls his extravagant lifestyle through a series of scams. On Brown’s trail: Lance Leising, a dogged FBI special agent determined to put Brown behind bars. When Brown’s funds run low and his past catches up with him, he plots his most elaborate scheme yet, pitting himself against Leising in a deadly game of cat and mouse — and becoming the most unlikely and elusive fugitive on the FBI’s most-wanted list.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over American Murderer?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Matthew Gentile

Written by

Matthew Gentile

Tom Pelphrey

Tom Pelphrey

Jason Derek Brown

Ryan Phillippe

Ryan Phillippe

Special Agent Lance Leising

Idina Menzel

Idina Menzel

Melanie

Shantel VanSanten

Shantel VanSanten

Jamie Brown

Jacki Weaver

Jacki Weaver

Jeanne

Laura Dennis

Laura Dennis

Stacey

Paul Schneider

Paul Schneider

David Brown

Court is in session

Put American Murderer on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.