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## **Nightmare Alley (2021) Review: A Gorgeous, Grim descent That Lacks a Final Punch** Guillermo del Toro’s *Nightmare Alley* is a masterclass in atmosphere and aesthetic storytelling. This is del Toro at his most refined, trading the s...
Movie spotlight
Nightmare Alley
2021
Movie
151 min
English
An ambitious carnival man with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychologist who is even more dangerous than he is.
Insights
IMDb6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes84%
Metacritic70/100
Google Users75%
Director: Guillermo del Toro•Genres: Neo-noir, Thriller, Psychological Horror, Crime
Plot Summary
Ambitious Stanton Carlisle, a carnival worker with a talent for manipulation, learns the art of cold reading from a mentalist and fortune teller. He soon uses his newfound skills to con the wealthy elite of 1940s society. As his deception deepens, he becomes entangled with a sinister psychiatrist who may prove to be his most dangerous mark yet.
Critical Reception
Guillermo del Toro's 'Nightmare Alley' received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its atmospheric direction, stunning visuals, and strong performances, particularly from Bradley Cooper. However, some critics found its pacing deliberate and its dark tone unrelentingly bleak, leading to a somewhat divisive, though still respected, reception.
What Reviewers Say
Visually stunning and masterfully directed by Guillermo del Toro.
Bradley Cooper delivers a compelling and intense lead performance.
A dark, atmospheric, and unnerving take on the noir genre.
Google audience: Audiences appreciated the film's stunning visuals, strong acting, and dark, captivating atmosphere. Some viewers found the story to be slow-paced and overly grim, but the overall sentiment was positive, highlighting its quality filmmaking and thematic depth.
Awards & Accolades
Nominated for 1 Academy Award (Best Costume Design).
Fun Fact
The film is a remake of the 1947 film of the same name, which was based on the 1946 novel by William Lindsay Gresham. Guillermo del Toro initially intended to make 'Nightmare Alley' as his next project after 'The Shape of Water,' but it was delayed due to the original studio's reluctance to finance a noir film with a significant budget.
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My Review
TMDB Reviews
7 reviews
The Movie Mob
**RUN! Save yourselves!** The cinematography makes this movie lovely to watch while being miserable to experience. Filled with amazing actors trying to make sense of a film riddled with plot holes and disappointment. I was hoping for a g...
CinemaSerf
Bradley Cooper picks up the baton from Tyrone Power (1948) as the ambitious "Stanton Carlisle", a shrewd young man who works the travelling shows with an eye for the main chance. That chance comes when he hooks up with Toni Collette's "Zeen...
beyondthecineram...
Full review: <a>https://www.tinakakadelis.com/beyond-the-cinerama-dome/2021/12/28/the-spook-show-must-go-on-nightmare-alley-review<a> Writer and director Guillermo del Toro has built his career on monster movies. He’s filled them with th...
r96sk
This is great! I loved it! <em>'Nightmare Alley'</em> is a superb watch! I particularly enjoyed the beginning and end, which are truly excellent; the middle part isn't as strong, but is still top notch in its own right. I love the dark a...
Chris Sawin
The duration of _Nightmare Alley_ may seem like a slog even as you’re watching it. On one hand, your mindset is essentially, “How many times do I have to watch Bradley Cooper read a book and point at his temple over and over for two and a h...
garethmb
Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper); is a man trying to get by in late 1930s America in the new film "Nightmare Alley". Our first introduction to Stanton is less than flattering and he soon finds himself employed at a Carnival after coming up...
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