Director Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water) moves from horror fantasy to film noir drama with ease in his adaptation of Nightmare Alley, a novel previously filmed to great effect in 1947. This lurid, period piece, a tale of deception and greed, is a showcase for his visual prowess and displays a splendid acting ensemble.
Stan (Bradley Cooper) is a drifter with a dark past who gets a job at a carnival assimilating with the performers and learning the art of performing as a mentalist. Together with Molly (Rooney Mara), they perform a solo act to great success and attract the attention of a skeptical psychologist, Dr. Ritter (Cate Blanchett), whose recorded sessions with the wealthy and powerful prove invaluable to Stan and could prove a financial windfall. However, their con game carries enormous risks and potentially deadly, catastrophic consequences.
Del Toro’s carnival world is a macabre, fascinating assortment of offbeat characters amid a dark, bizarre setting, a perfect playground for Del Toro to display his cinematic style. The imaginative set designs and stylish costumes are imbued with vivid colors, all beautifully shot.
It seems every character has a checkered past especially Stan who is not so much an evil person as an opportunist and survivor. Blanchett plays a sultry, alluring femme fatale who you just know is trouble. When she and Cooper meet, sparks fly; their scenes are sublime. This is a dream cast of performers at the top of their game including Willem Dafoe, Toni Collette, Richard Jenkins, and David Strathairn.
While mainstream audiences may not quite appreciate its edginess and moody atmosphere nor its uncompromising end, the film is a feast for del Toro cineastes and lovers of this genre.
**** of **** stars (for fans of del Toro)
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