Movies like Nightmare in Columbia County

If you like "Nightmare in Columbia County" you are looking for tense, rough and mind bending movies about / with serial killer, kidnapping, love, murder, child abuse, beauty pageant and law enforcement themes of Crime, Drama and Thriller genre shot in USA.
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Nightmare in Columbia County (1991)
 5.6
 393
Nightmare in Columbia County (1991)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min.
Story: The recounting of a terrible crime that wracked a family and galvanized police in South Carolina in the 1980's. Southern beauty pageant winner Dawn Smith is targeted by a sadistic stalker whose obsession with her leads him to kidnap her younger sister.
Style: tense, rough, mind bending, serious, realistic, suspenseful, cult film
Plot: serial killer, kidnapping, love, murder, child abuse, beauty pageant, law enforcement, psychopath, obsession, stalking, rivalry, danger, confined, contests and competitions, small town, woman in danger, small town life, riddles and clues, teenage girl, sheriff, high school student, beauty queen, kidnapped girl, deadly, pay phone ...
Time: 80s
Place: south carolina

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Most similar movies to Nightmare in Columbia County

The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out suspenseful, serious, realistic and rough films with plots about deadly, murder, serial killer, danger, law enforcement, psychopath and police investigation mostly in Thriller, Crime and Drama genres. Some movies like Nightmare in Columbia County: The Prodigy (2005), Freeway Killer (2010), The Grim Sleeper (2014), Zodiac Killer (2005), American Crime (2004). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
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 5.3
 923
The Prodigy (2005)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story: "The Prodigy" tells the story of small-time enforcer Truman Fisher's vicious conflict with a sadistic assassin who has chosen the unwilling Truman to be his successor. The assassin, who goes by the alias Rains and whose exploits have ...
Style: exciting, suspenseful, rough, suspense, independent film ...
Plot: serial killer, police detective, riddles and clues, law enforcement, gang, danger, police investigation, rivalry, psychopath, murder, assassin, martial arts ...
Time: 21st century
Place: texas
⇓ similarity ⇓
100%
Freeway Killer (2010)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min.
Story: For years he terrorized California motorists as he rode the endless highways searching for his next victim. The discarded bodies turned up beaten, sexually assaulted and horribly mutilated. Deceptively charming and intelligent, the scheming murderer ...
Style: serious, suspenseful, rough, scary, realistic ...
Plot: serial killer, murder, psychopath, rape and murder, who done it, strong violent content, police detective, law enforcement, life is a bitch, stalking, danger, physical appearance ...
Time: 21st century
Place: california, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
37%
Boston Strangler: The Untold Story (2008)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story: Boston Strangler: The Untold Story is an intense true-crime thriller about Albert De Salvo, a wise cracking, small time criminal with an unrelenting sex drive, who ultimately falsely confesses to being the strangler that wreaked havoc in Boston ...
Style: scary, psychological, serious, rough, realistic ...
Plot: serial killer, psychopath, prison life, confined, law enforcement, prison, danger, killer, biopic, manipulation, rivalry, woman in danger ...
Time: 21st century
Place: usa, boston
⇓ similarity ⇓
37%
The Grim Sleeper (2014)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min.
Story: Journalist Christine Pelisek helps law enforcement investigate the alleged serial killer known as the Grim Sleeper.
Style: serious, suspenseful, realistic, captivating, tense ...
Plot: serial killer, police investigation, danger, journalism, murder, riddles and clues, stalking, law enforcement, biopic, partners against crime, twins, murderous pair ...
Time: 20th century, 80s
Place: usa, los angeles
⇓ similarity ⇓
36%
Movie in collections
Zodiac Killer (2005)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min.
Story: A young man who works at a nursing home uses the legendary Zodiac killer's M.O. to kill people who neglect their elderly relatives.
Style: slasher, serious, rough, disturbing, suspenseful ...
Plot: serial killer, wannabe, murder, mind game, police investigation, police detective, obsession, danger, rivalry, master criminal, psychopath, gory ...
Time: 2000s
Place: bay area, usa, los angeles, california
⇓ similarity ⇓
36%
American Crime (2004)
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story: A young smalltown reporter, Jessie St. Claire, begins investigating a killer stalking his victims making video tapes. This might just be the career opportunity, which she has hoped for. When she herself becomes a target and suddenly disappears, the ...
Style: serious, scary, realistic, tense, rough ...
Plot: serial killer, murder, psychopath, stalking, mind game, investigation, uncover truth, who done it, danger, protagonist as suspect, journalism, law enforcement ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
34%
 6.2
 606
Class of '76 (2005)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 180 min.
Story: Inspector Tom Monroe (Robert Carlyle) investigates the mysterious death of several people that the only thing they have in common is being classmates. In addition, the deaths appear to be related to a mysterious "faceless child."
Style: rough, suspenseful, serious, suspense, psychological ...
Plot: investigation, amateur detective, obsession, murder, riddles and clues, law enforcement, kidnapping, mentally unstable, mystery killer, classmate, serial killer, school ...
Time: 21st century
Place: england
⇓ similarity ⇓
32%
The Case of the Hillside Stranglers (1989)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story: The true chilling story of the "two of a kind", killing cousins Angelo Buono and Kenneth Bianchi, better known as the Hillside Stranglers, is told in this TV drama.
Style: tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful, rough
Plot: murder, serial killer, two killers, true crime, psychopath, criminal, killer, violent, police detective, homicide, strangler, cousin ...
Time: 20th century, 80s
Place: los angeles, california
⇓ similarity ⇓
32%
Movie in collections
Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield (2007)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story: Inspired by the true story of one of the most gruesome killers in American history. Now, years after inspiring "Psycho's" Norman Bates, "The Silence Of The Lambs'" Buffalo Bill and "The Texas Chainsaw ...
Style: disturbing, slasher, serious, scary, suspenseful ...
Plot: serial killer, murder, law enforcement, police investigation, violence spree, psychopath, stalking, mind game, danger, killer, true crime, criminal ...
Time: 50s
Place: usa, wisconsin, texas
⇓ similarity ⇓
32%
Out of the Darkness (1985)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min.
Story: A gripping thriller telling the true story of the hunt and capture of David Berkowitz, a.k.a. "Son of Sam" — the infamous serial killer who stalked New York in the 70s.
Style: detective, psychological, realistic, serious, mind bending ...
Plot: serial killer, true crime, murder, killer, parent child relationship, couple relations, chases and races, tough law enforcer, danger, obsessive quest, law enforcement, fighting crime ...
Time: 70s, 20th century
Place: brooklyn new york city, new york
⇓ similarity ⇓
31%
To Serve and Protect (1999)
Genre: Thriller, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 169 min.
TV show
Story: Three generations of Dallas police officers join together to track down the deadliest serial killer ever to terrorize Texas.
Style: detective, serious, psychological, realistic, exciting ...
Audience: boys' night
Plot: serial killer, nypd, murder, kidnapping, hostage, danger, crime gone awry, police investigation, law enforcement, confined, chases and races, woman in danger ...
Time: 20th century, 90s
Place: texas
⇓ similarity ⇓
31%
Bundy: An American Icon (2009)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story: Bundy, starring Corin Nemec in the title role and co-starring Kane Hodder, details the dark psyche and previously unexplored motivations of the man who became known as one of the most notorious serial killers to leave behind a legacy of evil.
Style: serious, slasher, rough, disturbing, suspenseful ...
Plot: serial killer, murder, obsession, psychopath, woman in danger, violence spree, gory, biopic, killer, true crime, ted bundy, villain ...
Time: 20th century, 70s
Place: usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
31%
Gone but Not Forgotten (2005)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 150 min.
Story: An Oregon woman vanishes. In her wake remains a single black rose & a note reading gone but not forgotten. Now a man stands accused: a private eye has gone missing: a detective knows more than she lets on: & a tough female attorney has ...
Style: tense, realistic, suspenseful, psychological, serious
Plot: serial killer, danger, private detective, investigation, amateur detective, psychopath, rivalry, murder, police investigation, protagonist as suspect, law enforcement, police detective ...
Place: usa, new york, oregon
⇓ similarity ⇓
30%
I Can Make You Love Me (1993)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story: Laura Black has got it. She has got her master in computer science and she has got that great job in Silicon Valley. Time to say 'bye bye' to mom and dad and to leave Virginia. Everything seems to be fine with one exception. That guy ...
Style: slasher, creepy, sad, realistic, serious ...
Plot: stalker, obsession, harassment, psychopath, serial killer, hostage, fatal attraction, wandering, killings, dangerous attraction, mentally unstable, stalking ...
Time: 80s
Place: california, usa, virginia
⇓ similarity ⇓
30%
Try to Remember (2004)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story: Fifteen years after a murderer is convicted he is released and all the witnesses against him begin to be murdered.
Style: psychological, rough, realistic, serious, scary ...
Plot: serial killer, haunted by the past, police investigation, psychopath, manhunt, murder, vengeance, law enforcement, rivalry, friendship, woman in danger, small town ...
Time: 21st century
Place: miami, usa, florida
⇓ similarity ⇓
30%
Brother's Keeper (2002)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story: The FBI sought the help of Lucinda Pond (Jeanne Tripplehorn), a former agent of the body, to try to locate the author of a series of murders that allegedly may have committed his brother. Lucinda, who left the police years ago, decides to help ...
Style: psychological, serious, tense, suspenseful, realistic ...
Plot: serial killer, psychopath, police investigation, moral dilemma, law enforcement, rivalry, danger, mind game, introspection, siblings relations, haunted by the past, murder ...
Time: 21st century
Place: portland oregon
⇓ similarity ⇓
30%
Dead Connection (1994)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min.
Story: After a series of murders in motel rooms are connected, a cop, Dickson, heads out on the trail to find a serial killer. He discovers that he signs the motel guest-books with the names of boxers, and hence gets a lead on him. However, when he just ...
Style: detective, independent film, tense, mind bending, realistic ...
Plot: serial killer, interracial, police, psychopath, murder, phone sex, woman in danger, alcohol abuse, vengeance, investigation, rivalry, athlete's life ...
Time: 90s
Place: los angeles
⇓ similarity ⇓
30%
 4.4
 466
The Gunman (2004)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story: When Detective Ben Simm's wife is killed, he has to learn to be both father and mother to his little girl while searching for a Vigilante that has his own sense of justice.
Style: disturbing, serious, suspenseful, tense, independent film ...
Audience: boys' night
Plot: vigilantism, vigilante, investigation, vengeance, police detective, haunted by the past, serial killer, law enforcement, danger, psychopath, murder, who done it ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
30%
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80s
5694
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29790
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22874
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14557
 3.6
 224
Quiet Kill (2004)
Genre: Crime, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min.
Story: An attractive married woman and a member of the 'Country Club Tennis Set', is being neglected by her workaholic doctor husband, Jerry (Corbin Bernsen). Lonely and insecure, Amy foolishly falls for the seductive charms of a much younger ...
Style: suspenseful, realistic, serious, tense, independent film ...
Plot: serial killer, murder, investigation, stalker, dangerous attraction, woman in danger, love affair, rivalry, danger, law enforcement, mind game, who done it ...
⇓ similarity ⇓
30%
The Detective 2 (2011)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 104 min.
Story: Mysteries keep revolving around Tam’s life.
Style: realistic, serious, atmospheric, stylized, suspenseful ...
Plot: law enforcement, police detective, investigation, police investigation, danger, private detective, murder, riddles and clues, serial killer, killer, violent content, urban ...
Time: 21st century
Place: asia, china, thailand
⇓ similarity ⇓
30%
 5.6
 356
Last Screening (2011)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: France
Duration: 81 min.
Story: Sylvain, a film-obsessed 31-year-old, lives in the basement of a small art-house theater where he works as a programmer, projectionist and cashier. Each night, after the last showing, he goes out for a murderous ritual.
Style: tense, suspenseful, psychological, captivating, scary ...
Plot: serial killer, obsession, danger, psychopath, theater, small town, murder, violence, mentally unstable, solitary, woman in danger, violent content ...
Time: 21st century
Place: france, europe
⇓ similarity ⇓
30%
Taken in Broad Daylight (2009)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min.
Story: Every 24 hrs. after a child's been kidnapped by a stranger, chances of finding them alive diminishes to almost 100% ... The true and inspiring survival story of kidnapped teen, Anne Sluti, and how she manages to stay alive by manipulating her ...
Style: realistic, rough, serious, suspenseful, exciting ...
Plot: kidnapping, kidnapped, survival, rescue, missing person, danger, confined, hostage, kidnapper kidnapped relationship, rape, showdown, stockholm syndrome ...
Time: 21st century
Place: nebraska, montana, wyoming
⇓ similarity ⇓
30%
 4.7
 2K
The Keeper (2004)
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Drama
Country: UK, Canada
Duration: 95 min.
Story: When an apparently exemplary cop abducts and secretly imprisons a beautiful dancer, a deadly battle of wills between captor and captive ensues.
Style: psychological thriller, psychological, serious, suspenseful, rough ...
Audience: boys' night
Plot: hostage, kidnapping, psychopath, missing person, woman in danger, deputy sheriff, riddles and clues, isolation, who done it, captivity, serial killer, mentally unstable ...
Place: asia, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
29%
Movie in collections
Jack Reed: One of Our Own (1995)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story: Jack Reed investigates a young woman whom he and his wife take into their household when she turns out to be targeted by unknown assassins.
Style: serious, realistic, tense, suspenseful, rough
Plot: nypd, murder, law enforcement, fugitives, chases and races, witnessing a crime, dishonesty, danger, rivalry, woman in danger, true crime, fugitive ...
Time: 90s
⇓ similarity ⇓
29%
 5.4
 201
Ladies Night (2005)
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Crime
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 85 min.
Story: Insurance investigators track a serial killer who seduces women with access to big bucks, convinces them to embezzle, then kills them.
Style: serious, rough, suspenseful, cynical, realistic
Plot: serial killer, murder, danger, psychopath, dangerous attraction, police investigation, father son relationship, female nudity, voyeurism, false identity, male nudity, insurance investigator ...
Time: 21st century
⇓ similarity ⇓
29%
Beautiful & Twisted (2015)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min.
Story: Following the murder of hotel heir Ben Novack Jr., police focus their investigation on his wife, Narcy.
Style: realistic, serious, tense, captivating, suspense ...
Plot: murder, femme fatale, danger, couples, husband wife relationship, psychopath, investigation, rivalry, death, true crime, mother in law, strip club ...
Time: 21st century
Place: usa, florida, miami
⇓ similarity ⇓
29%
The Prophet's Game (2000)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 106 min.
Story: The Prophet has arrived in the ultimate playing ground... Los Angeles. It has taken an innocent childhood game and twisted it into a deadly match of wits, where the only prize is survival. Moving from city to city, The Prophet lures unsuspecting ...
Style: disturbing, suspenseful, psychological, bleak, realistic ...
Plot: murder, riddles and clues, investigation, chases and races, vengeance, danger, obsession, death of daughter, uncover truth, ex cop, judiciary, psychopath ...
Time: 90s
Place: california, usa, los angeles
⇓ similarity ⇓
29%
The Killing Time (1987)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min.
Story: After bagging his latest victim, a murderous sociopath (Kiefer Sutherland) decides to steal the dead man's identity and pose as the deputy of a remote coastal town, where the local sheriff (Beau Bridges) and his lover (Camelia Kath) are cooking ...
Style: tense, realistic, rough, serious, suspenseful ...
Audience: boys' night
Plot: murder, frame up, small town, disorder, investigation, hidden identity, mistaken identity, dishonesty, law enforcement, betrayal, love triangle, small town life ...
Time: 80s, year 1987
Place: california, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
29%
 5.3
 7K
The Zodiac (2005)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 158 min.
Story: An elusive serial killer known as the Zodiac terrorizes the San Francisco Bay in the late 1960s, while detectives aim to stop him before he claims more victims. Based on a true story.
Style: rough, psychological, bleak, serious, scary ...
Plot: serial killer, investigation, psychopath, murder, police detective, obsession, killing spree, mind game, gory, family conflict, law enforcement, danger ...
Time: 20th century, 60s, year 2005
Place: san francisco, california, bay area, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
28%
 5.9
 2K
The Gray Man (2007)
Genre: Biography, Crime, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min.
Story: Early 20th century. Albert Fish, a seemingly benevolent father and grandfather who reared his family by himself after his wife deserted them, turns out to be a serial child molester and murderer. Based on a true story.
Style: rough, suspenseful, serious, realistic, disturbing ...
Plot: serial killer, child murder, cannibalism, cannibal, investigation, police detective, psychopath, danger, obsession, kidnapping, killer, true crime ...
Time: 1920s, 1930s, 20th century
Place: usa, new york
⇓ similarity ⇓
28%
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