by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
When you need an eerie period piece with strange sensibilities and monstrous beings in them… who do you call? Guillermo del Toro, of course! Nightmare Alley, this ‘40s noir, gets a modern update from del Toro, who knows exactly how to create an atmosphere. Dripping in a vintage look and a darkness that penetrates every frame, this period piece draws you in and never lets up. From the jump, you know this will be a dark and torture ride with our con man protagonist. Whether it is populating a carnival or the big city, del Toro creates a perfect cinematic world that we expect from his films.
But how does del Toro accomplish this? This world feels so realized and that stems from the incredible production design. The carnival feels ripped from an old school tale with beautiful colors, but with a grunginess that makes it feel realized. The city is big and bold with a level of class that embodies the shiny façade hiding the darkness underneath. Cinematographer Dan Laustsen brings an incredible eye (as he did on The Shape of Water) that injects a tinge of color to give the world a specific look that just screams del Toro. Nathan Johnson’s score is eerie and moving, yet haunting. There are striking uses of lighting (especially during the performances of Stanton Carlisle), and the use of snow and fog create a specific atmosphere that is cold and chilling. For a film that clocks in at 150 minutes, the film moves along with tension and suspense.
What do del Toro and his screenwriting partner, Kim Morgan, bring to this new adaptation of this classic 1940s novel? With effect flashbacks, the script can build a mystery around Stanton’s (Bradley Cooper) past. This is an intriguing and enthralling narrative piece, as the film builds up the tension to find out how he turned out this way. Stanton is a well-crafted character full of resourcefulness but also pride and overconfidence. What a terrible combination! Much of the narrative turns into a series of connections that Stanton makes, abuses, and moves on from (until this film finally delivers some cold hard consequences). Some of these connections are intriguing and mysterious, but others feel a bit undercooked (particularly the relationship that Stanton builds with Rooney Mara’s Molly). The film is packed with dark twists and revelations about characters and relationships, delivering an enticing engagement for the audience. The central narrative is the rise and fall of a con man, and from the start, Carlisle’s story is disturbing and impactful leading up to a fitting and prophetic final sequence.
But the first thing you probably noticed about this film is the absolutely stacked ensemble in this film, right? Cooper leads the way with a charismatic yet dark performance where something is always underneath the action on screen. He embodies the con man, as he is believable in his deceptive moments. He also captures the look so well (especially with his well-placed mustache). No good noir would go on without a dangerous femme fatale with Cate Blanchett answering the call on this film. There is a dark and seductive magnetism between Cooper and Blanchett with layers underneath because never give up the truth of the situation. Toni Collette gets some time to shine earlier on in the film, while Mara gets to be the moral compass for the audience attempting to keep Stanton in check, too. Willem Dafoe leads the way with plenty of great character actors like Ron Perlman, Clifton Collins Jr., and Tim Blake Nelson giving strong supporting performances. One from Richard Jenkins is eerie and unnerving as he has a cold façade over some truly disturbing truths.
Does del Toro once again deliver a great story about monsters among men? There are no real creatures in this film, but the “humans” in it deliver plenty of monstrous actions. Cooper delivers a compelling and engrossing performance that carries this beautiful and eerie noir. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way. Nightmare Alley finds del Toro in his safe space where he excels and delivers an impactful and engrossing experience that is haunting and shocking. Show this strange film some love.
Grade: B+
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