In 1946, William Lindsay Graham published Nightmare Alley, a novel that explores the darker side of carnivals and their inhabitants. Graham based much of the book on conversations with a former carny while serving in the Spanish Civil War. In 1947, 20th Century Fox bought the rights to adapt the novel into a feature film with director Edmund Goulding. The film received mixed reviews from critics and was a financial disappointment when it was released. Over time, the film has been reappraised and is now considered a classic of the film noir genre. In 2017, Searchlight Pictures announced a new film adaptation of the novel directed by Guillermo Del Toro was in development. Production started in January 2020 but was halted due to COVID-19, though they managed to finish filming in December. After nearly two and a half years of production, Del Toro’s Nightmare Alley hit theaters in December 2021.
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Synopsis
After burning down his childhood home, Stanton “Stan” Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) gets a job working for a local carnival. He works with clairvoyant “Madame Zeena” (Toni Collette) and her husband, Pete (David Strathairn), who teaches him some tricks. Pete shows Stan how they use a coded language system to make it seem like they have psychic powers. While at the carnival, Stan falls in love with fellow carny Molly (Rooney Mara), who performs an electrifying act. Despite warnings from her father figure Bruno (Ron Perlman), Molly decides to run off with Stan for a better life. Two years later, Stan has become famous for his psychic act with Molly as his assistant using Pete’s methods. During one show, psychologist Dr. Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett) challenges Stan’s abilities, but they later develop an odd relationship. They plan to extort money from Judge Kimball (Richard Jenkins), which soon spirals out of control.
Review
Guillermo Del Toro is one of those filmmakers who consistently put out high-quality entertainment, and Nightmare Alley is no exception. Admittedly, it’s not as strong as films like Pan’s Labyrinth or The Shape of Water, but it’s still impressive. The production design and cinematography are exquisite and capture the film noir aesthetic found in old pulp novels. Even in the daytime scenes, there’s a sense of gloom and dread throughout that leave you feeling uncomfortable. The score by composer Nathan Johnson (Knives Out) further adds tension and has a hauntingly beautiful quality. Bradley Cooper makes for an excellent lead, playing his part with plenty of charisma despite his shady dealings. As a femme fatale type, Cate Blanchett is perfect casting, and she has fantastic chemistry with Cooper. Also, Rooney Mara is wonderfully empathetic as a naive woman caught in the middle of this odd
ménage à trois.
The rest of the supporting cast, including Willem Dafoe, Ron Perlman, Toni Collette, Richard Jenkins, and Mary Steenburgen, are fantastic. Even with their limited screen time, each gets a shining moment, and they’ll stick with you well after they’re gone. Granted, I have not seen the original 1947 movie, so I can’t say how this film compares to that version. Also, I will admit that the film is pushing it with its two-and-a-half-hour runtime, and plenty could’ve been trimmed. This slow burner doesn’t necessarily have a structured plot, which might put off some audiences. It doesn’t get going until 40 minutes in, but if you’re willing to go for the ride, it’s worth it. This movie may not be one of Del Toro’s best, but that doesn’t take away from how incredible it is. Overall, Nightmare Alley is a well-crafted psychological thriller that’ll stay with you well after watching it.
Buy tickets to Nightmare Alley from Fandango: https://fandan.co/3sMJoRk.
