Read User Reviews and Submit your own for Nightmare Alley (2021)

8

JLuis_001Dec 17, 2021

A problem that often happens to good directors is when they reach a point where their style, despite being meticulous, starts to become more important than the narrative work.

Guillermo del Toro is a director who puts a lot of detail intoA problem that often happens to good directors is when they reach a point where their style, despite being meticulous, starts to become more important than the narrative work.

Guillermo del Toro is a director who puts a lot of detail into the production of his films. He is a director known worldwide for his visual style and excellent attention to detail.
And his stories, while not perfect, are usually quite engaging.

After winning the Oscar for best director in 2017, it goes without saying that the expectations for his next work were enormous. However, I don't think he managed to live up to these this time.

Nightmare Alley is far from a disappointment. I really believe it's a good movie, but I also personally think that Del Toro didn't know how to make the most of the noir genre in his script.

Aesthetically there is nothing to reproach, this film breathes a life of its own as far as that is concerned, but I think Del Toro couldn't give it the incisive and criminal soul that a story like this needed.

Overall it has good performances, although the real standouts are Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett.
I can't say if it surpasses the '47 film, because I haven't seen it, but even with the things I didn't like, mainly about its story, it's a movie that doesn't deserve to disappear as it surely will because of the more than stupid decision of its studio to release it at the same time as the new Spider-Man movie, but if you have the time to give it a chance, do it.… Expand

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7

HerickDienerFeb 12, 2022

"Nightmare Alley" é bem mais interessante do que um dos trailers mais confusos que eu já vi se mostrou.

Não é difícil se envolver com a história e ficar com os olhos atentos para ver até onde ela vai chegar, caminho este trilhado com a ajuda"Nightmare Alley" é bem mais interessante do que um dos trailers mais confusos que eu já vi se mostrou.

Não é difícil se envolver com a história e ficar com os olhos atentos para ver até onde ela vai chegar, caminho este trilhado com a ajuda de um trio de incríveis atrizes: Toni Collette, Rooney Mara e Cate Blanchett.

Apesar disso, a reviravolta do arco final soou um pouco confusa e apressada, algo que não deveria acontecer em um filme que já nos manteve sentados por 2h e 20m de duração.

Bom filme, mas uma escolha um tanto duvidosa para suceder a obra prima de Del Toro, "The Shape of Water".… Expand

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8

AnIisFeb 19, 2022

very good film full of suspense, unpredictable scenario, high performance of the actors

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8

Rebecca31Feb 3, 2022

Nightmare Alley is a stylish and beautifully directed neo-noir by Guillermo del Toro. I think the bar has been set very high by del Toro now when you look at movies like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water. So to say I had highNightmare Alley is a stylish and beautifully directed neo-noir by Guillermo del Toro. I think the bar has been set very high by del Toro now when you look at movies like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water. So to say I had high expectations is an understatement. It may not have quite reached what I was expecting but it’s still a terrific crime/thriller.

Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) is a scammer and a hustler, when he joins a carnival to earn a bit of money he discovers the secrets behind manipulating people and the tricks of mentalism. For the first time in his life he’s finally good at something but not just good, the best. This opens doors for him that he previously never dreamt possible. His life takes a different turn when he meets Dr. Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett), a psychiatrist who may be even more dangerous than he is.

The set design, the cinematography, and the soundtrack all work brilliantly to immerse you in this dark thriller. I can’t get over how good Bradley Cooper is in Nightmare Alley, he seems to get better with every new movie he’s in. A brilliant performance, it’s hard to imagine anyone else take on that role. I don’t think Guillermo del Toro has ever made a misstep in choosing a cast for his movies and Nightmare Alley is no exception. My only real issue was how dragged out the story was, particularly in the first half. I feel it could have been condensed a little bit, although I may have felt this way because of the 4D experience my local cinema appeared to be offering. Whenever it snowed in Nightmare Alley I was starting to feel as cold as the characters, so perhaps that didn’t help. Aside from that, the story is what you’d expect from del Toro. Intriguing and very dark with a thrilling third act. We don’t see enough neo-noir thrillers anymore, so anyone looking for something dark and mysterious for your weekly cinema trip need look no further.

Nightmare Alley may not be quite up there with Crimson Peak, Pan’s Labyrinth or The Shape of Water but it’s a great movie and so dark in all the right places. Highly recommended for all the Guillermo del Toro fans.… Expand

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4

KlebartJan 3, 2022

The aspect of a period piece loses its luster after a half hour. It's not a movie with a lot of purpose or enjoyment to it. The movie itself is full of itself to be honest. This isn't a movie anyone needs to see.

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6

BeardedYodaDec 17, 2021

Nightmare Alley is a beautiful looking, well shot, well acted, and detailed film with a lot of interesting concepts. But the plot of the film just was not up to par. Nightmare Alley's plot felt very disjointed, at times feeling like itsNightmare Alley is a beautiful looking, well shot, well acted, and detailed film with a lot of interesting concepts. But the plot of the film just was not up to par. Nightmare Alley's plot felt very disjointed, at times feeling like its overall narrative was going far to fast for its own good. I found this odd, as the movie also felt far too slow during its second half. All of this is a tad frustrating, as I do very much like del Toro's other work and can see the effort in this film.… Expand

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5

MattyIce34Dec 20, 2021

As with any GDT film, it looks great, but why is this thing 2.5 hours long? It doesn't have the interesting characters or developed plot to justify it.

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9

CLAYTAYLOR21Dec 19, 2021

Nightmare Alley is one of the most thought provoking films I've ever seen. It grabs your attention with stunning circus visuals in the first act, and never lets up with beautiful cinematography prevalent throughout. The powerhouseNightmare Alley is one of the most thought provoking films I've ever seen. It grabs your attention with stunning circus visuals in the first act, and never lets up with beautiful cinematography prevalent throughout. The powerhouse performances of Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett keep you on your toes, even during the second act, when the plot slows down significantly. Finally, the third act is an absolute thrill ride with a clever ending that will leave you reconsidering everything you've seen. This fantastic conclusion is the icing on the cake for another terrific addition to Guillermo del Toro's body of work.… Expand

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8

Sauce_bossJan 4, 2022

Just wow. Acting, directing, cinematography all are great. But I really felt invested, at times the suspense was so mild and left me aching and dreading what will come. I would say that I felt as though this wanted more, as if it could haveJust wow. Acting, directing, cinematography all are great. But I really felt invested, at times the suspense was so mild and left me aching and dreading what will come. I would say that I felt as though this wanted more, as if it could have been a mini series (or possibly I just wanted that). Overall would recommend, and see again.… Expand

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9

Daffyduck1234Jan 27, 2022

To be completely honest this movie was literally breathtaking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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7

TVJerryDec 21, 2021

Bradley Cooper plays a ne’er-do-well who ends up in a 30s traveling carnival. He meets a mentalist and takes the act on the road with his girlfriend (Rooney Mara). A few years later, he’s parlayed the act into a high society gimmick. In hisBradley Cooper plays a ne’er-do-well who ends up in a 30s traveling carnival. He meets a mentalist and takes the act on the road with his girlfriend (Rooney Mara). A few years later, he’s parlayed the act into a high society gimmick. In his scheme to bilk the rich, he enlists a glamorous psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett, doing a fabulous femme fatale). Director Guillermo del Toro has crafted a beautifully-shot noir with lush deco art direction. The carny sequences are fascinating, but do lag longer than needed before the story move on. Del Toro has also created an assemblage of characters who aren’t especially empathetic, which bleeds into the story. As a result, this is more appreciated for its lush cinematic style than its emotional effect.… Expand

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8

bertobellamyJan 29, 2022

There are no supernatural monsters in Guillermo del Toro's 'Nightmare Alley,' but the real ones, those that live within us, are far scarier.

In this new adaption of the 1946 novel — about a carny that becomes a hustler and starts to make hisThere are no supernatural monsters in Guillermo del Toro's 'Nightmare Alley,' but the real ones, those that live within us, are far scarier.

In this new adaption of the 1946 novel — about a carny that becomes a hustler and starts to make his way up with a mentalist show, and through lies and deception —, del Toro puts aside fantasy and horror to focus on a heavy drama about hope, power, and inhumanity (a theme that goes way back to his first films).

With 'The Shape of Water, the Mexican showed that he can direct actors as well, but I think this one is his graduation in that regard. Bradley Cooper, as the protagonist, and Cate Blanchett, as one of his associates, shine with a couple of performances that embody the evilness inside. Del Toro and co-screenwriter Kim Morgan take their time to build these characters, especially Cooper's, whose journey in the first part is the antithesis of the later one. Also, Dan Laustsen's photography is fundamental to support the neo-noir atmosphere that del Toro tries to build here. The use of shadows and lights is beyond amazing. The scenes in Cate Blanchet's character office exude seductiveness and mystery. Of course, the production design plays a big part. Hope those two things get Academy Award nominations pretty soon.

This is not my favorite del Toro film, but it's very satisfying to see how he plays with old Hollywood conventions to conceive a crude and very engaging tale about how corruption slowly but surely destroys a man that believes he's a god. Not in vain there are a lot of nazism references in here. Oh, and that final shot will be remembered for a long, long time. And a little more Rooney Mara couldn't have hurt.… Expand

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7

EludiumQ36Feb 9, 2022

"Nightmare Alley" ($30M take) follows a 30s-era carny conman in a murder thriller by Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pacific Rim, Shape of Water). It features Hollywood Hall of Famers but the mostly colorless '30s era setting is off-putting and"Nightmare Alley" ($30M take) follows a 30s-era carny conman in a murder thriller by Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pacific Rim, Shape of Water). It features Hollywood Hall of Famers but the mostly colorless '30s era setting is off-putting and a big reason why it was a box office fail; it's tv fare, what used to be called direct-to-video, had no business in theatres. Anyway, the plot is pretty decent, who doesn't like to see conmen at work and to ultimately get their comeuppance? The movie starts off with Bradley Cooper's "Stanton" character looking so much like Indiana Jones but that image faded fast as he was more villain than hero there. Cate Blanchett's "Lilith" character shows up in the second act and she's got a delicious role she sinks her teeth into. The film features two climactic scenes though. The first one plays out his long-con but isn't up to the story standards that precede it, seems poorly constructed and doesn't pay off well. You'll end up yelling "really?!". The second one comes shortly after between him and Lilith which is better, more plausible. The denouement is pretty decent featuring a callback to act one. It's a decent enough film but its low-budget and 30s-era setting won't appeal to many.… Expand

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8

Compi24Jan 4, 2022

Yet another movie of del Toro's where it feels like he was born to make it, "Nightmare Alley" takes all the familiar elements of a traditional noir and seamlessly blends them together with all the creature comforts within a typical film ofYet another movie of del Toro's where it feels like he was born to make it, "Nightmare Alley" takes all the familiar elements of a traditional noir and seamlessly blends them together with all the creature comforts within a typical film of this filmmaker's — beautifully seedy and lived-in set design (honestly, how has del Toro not made a film set in a carnival before?), intoxicating camerawork and a healthy dose of unforgettably shocking violence. I'd say that this movie requires patience on the part of the viewer, but I never really had an issue with the pacing. It's a slow burn, but there's always intrigue on display at any given point in the film and you're never left without this sense that things are building to some kind of horrific conclusion. Man, does the movie not disappoint in that regard either. I'm either at the point where I feel like del Toro's films are starting to align with my tastes more and more or my tastes are starting to align with his style of filmmaking more and more. Either way, I am not upset about this.… Expand

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10

HucksterJan 26, 2022

Visually impeccable and totally delicious, maybe del Toro's most atmospheric film yet. With flawless production values, it gives a brilliant insight into the ugliness of carny life and the grifters tricks. All performances were seriouslyVisually impeccable and totally delicious, maybe del Toro's most atmospheric film yet. With flawless production values, it gives a brilliant insight into the ugliness of carny life and the grifters tricks. All performances were seriously great - Blanchett redefines 1940's noir glamour. Visceral at times, it probably could have been even more compelling at exposing the hideous underbelly of the fairground world. A fantastic third act ties it all together by bringing the protagonist full circle. A film to watch over and over to see the fine details.… Expand

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7

jamessFeb 8, 2022

In its way, Nightmare Alley is like a two and a half hour episode of Tales From The Crypt. Over achieving protagonist gets ironic comeuppance. In fact, why HBO MAX or Hulu doesn't reboot the iconic HBO series is a mystery. Del Toro lovesIn its way, Nightmare Alley is like a two and a half hour episode of Tales From The Crypt. Over achieving protagonist gets ironic comeuppance. In fact, why HBO MAX or Hulu doesn't reboot the iconic HBO series is a mystery. Del Toro loves period pieces. Be they set in the past or even the future, he seems most comfortable in time frames other than the present. The set direction, costuming and most of all cinematography reflect the time perfectly. It's as though this was filmed in the '40s with today's modern technology. The detailed noir lighting effects with focused highlight and shadow are beautiful. Technicals aside, it is a essentially a rags to riches to rags story. Bradley Cooper embodies that eras leading man look, from downtrodden drifter to dapper entertainer, he is, as Toni Collette' s character says "easy on the eyes". And of course, he has secrets. And as noir characters have in the past, they think they're in charge, but are led astray by the beauty, charm and danger of a woman who's really in charge. Bradley Cooper does his finest work, which makes the final scene which is basically a close up on his face, come full circle storywise and impressive acting wise. The supporting cast is stacked, with Del Toro faves like Ron Perlman and Richard Jenkins, alongside many others (such a joy to see Mary Steenburgen in a major motion picture again). Cate Blanchett is the epitome of the Hitchcock blonde, pure icy beauty. So a beautifully designed and finely acted morality tale, which is what '40s noir thrillers were essentially.… Expand

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7

moviemitch96Dec 17, 2021

The latest from fantasy director Guillermo del Toro ('Hellboy', 'Pan's Labyrinth', 'The Shape of Water'), Bradley Cooper plays a charismatic con man and drifter in the early 40s who stumbles upon a circus and acquaint himself with the manyThe latest from fantasy director Guillermo del Toro ('Hellboy', 'Pan's Labyrinth', 'The Shape of Water'), Bradley Cooper plays a charismatic con man and drifter in the early 40s who stumbles upon a circus and acquaint himself with the many freaks and geeks he encounters there in hopes of getting by. However, love, lies, dark secrets, and a haunted past threaten to undo him. This is based on the 1946 novel of the same name, and besides Cooper's charming and confident lead turn, an impressive all-star cast is assembled here, with so many great supporting players such as Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, and so many more! The visuals and production design, as well as cinematography in particular here are all stellar as well! And while I must say that storywise, it's not quite as strong as some of del Toro's past films and does feel a little drawn out and convoluted at times, the production value and overall atmosphere are undeniably infused with his dark fantastical elements that make him such a draw for so many audience members. Overall, the star-studded cast and unique and memorable production design and cinematography help keep the film afloat despite a slightly bloated and convoluted-feeling story.… Expand

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4

everettJan 11, 2022

I can't understand the praise, or why this movie was made, and especially why such fine actors signed on. Their roles are caricatures, and most of them played them as such. Others have noted that it's too long; I stuck it out, but unless youI can't understand the praise, or why this movie was made, and especially why such fine actors signed on. Their roles are caricatures, and most of them played them as such. Others have noted that it's too long; I stuck it out, but unless you love this director (clearly some people see something there that I don't), do something better with two and a half hours of your life.… Expand

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9

alejandro970Feb 3, 2022

That Guillermo del Toro's films look at first sight like a box of surprises, there is no doubt about that. The story of some carnival charlatans is wrapped in layers of mystery that keep the viewer intrigued all the time, with an unexpectedThat Guillermo del Toro's films look at first sight like a box of surprises, there is no doubt about that. The story of some carnival charlatans is wrapped in layers of mystery that keep the viewer intrigued all the time, with an unexpected final act. A must see.… Expand

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7

kirkenderDec 19, 2021

Del Toro's latest is bloated, gorgeous, and ultimately pays off its setup very well. It feels like a 4-6 hour miniseries that was chopped down to a feature film, because there's so much world that it wants to explore but doesn't dare lingerDel Toro's latest is bloated, gorgeous, and ultimately pays off its setup very well. It feels like a 4-6 hour miniseries that was chopped down to a feature film, because there's so much world that it wants to explore but doesn't dare linger longer than is enough to set up the many, many plot beats. It's well acted, but the script is so focused on maintaining some kind of momentum that you don't get to enjoy any of the performances. Dafoe, Blanchett, Strathairn, and Jenkins are standouts amongst a stellar cast. In Del Toro's filmography, it's a solid entry. And it made me want to watch HBOs Carnivale again.… Expand

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8

DelayedReviewsJan 30, 2022

Did not realize this was a remake of a 40s neo-noire film. Of course it is, it's so well done! The circular storytelling and the rich foreshadowing and the gruesome but satisfying practical effects are the highlights for me. Now that I thinkDid not realize this was a remake of a 40s neo-noire film. Of course it is, it's so well done! The circular storytelling and the rich foreshadowing and the gruesome but satisfying practical effects are the highlights for me. Now that I think about it, the psychiatrist lady is a bit too cold and trope-y for me to handle, but honestly, I think some movies should be resurrected faithfully like Nightmare Alley and Westside Story, like Shakespeare.… Expand

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7

d0vla11Jan 26, 2022

An interesting movie with a good message behind the solid story, well-done acting and weak soundtrack that could have been presented with a shorter length.

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8

Stream2BigScreeDec 23, 2021

Step right up, Streamers! Step right up! Every carnival has a few tricks up its sleeves. A little misdirection here, a little sleight of hand there, but it's all in the name of entertainment and spectacle. Sometimes audiences liked to getStep right up, Streamers! Step right up! Every carnival has a few tricks up its sleeves. A little misdirection here, a little sleight of hand there, but it's all in the name of entertainment and spectacle. Sometimes audiences liked to get fooled. Master auteur, Guillermo del Toro is the carnival barker of Nightmare Alley. He definitely has some tricks up his sleeves. Have you seen Pan's Labyrinth, Crimson Peak or The Shape of Water?!? Well, here's what's behind Nightmare Alley's curtain. (No spoilers, of course)

Guillermo del Toro directed Nightmare Alley into a stylish noir film about a mysterious drifter, who becomes part of a carnival and learns some tricks to improve his station in life. The film is a second adaptation of a novel with the same name. Del Toro uses a 1940's aesthetic to depict the story of the ruthlessness of ambition and seediness of human nature with Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) as the main character. Carlisle leeches out what he can from the carnival circuit and makes those skills translate to a more lucrative prospect. Intriguing turns and plot machinations ensue.

Del Toro is an absolute genius in creating an atmosphere. He does wonders in creating the world of Nightmare Alley. There's the wonderful look of the film that transports the audience back to the 1940's. The carnival and all of its details are vivid and at times grotesque. As the film moves away from the carnival, things get more opulent and dazzling. It's all just eye candy from the cinematography, set design and costumes. It's a winner on that level.

While the plot takes about an hour to get going, it is not until about two-thirds into the movie that the importance of the first half becomes abundantly clear. Pay attention to that first hour. Do not sleep on what Del Toro is doing. Do not get distracted by all of the pretty things. It is deliberately paced (slow), but incredibly important to the amazing pay off of this film.

Bradley Cooper anchors Nightmare Alley with a great and uncharacteristic performance. He's both charming and smarmy. Then, Cate Blanchett comes in mid-way through. She's a delightful change of pace for the film. Her absolute scenery-chewing femme fatale plays perfectly in the noir style. And, talk about glamorous. There are some other really good small parts throughout including Richard Jenkins, Willem Dafoe and Toni Collette. It's an entertaining cast that helps to heighten the fun and creep-factor of this film.

Ultimately, Nightmare Alley sneaks up on you. This movie requires patience and your undivided attention. It is gorgeous to look at and well-structured. Even though it is slow in the beginning, the payoff is absolutely worth it. Please go see this movie and grab a big box of popcorn. Step right up to be fooled by Guillermo del Toro's stylish and intriguing, Nightmare Alley.… Expand

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10

r96skFeb 3, 2022

This is great! I loved it!

'Nightmare Alley' 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 atmosphere itThis is great! I loved it!

'Nightmare Alley' 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 atmosphere it sets from the get-go, the sound design is outstanding - some bits are so striking and I love it! It has a quality, engrossing story to boot.

Bradley Cooper leads the cast with quality, though he isn't even the sole standout of the film. He is joined by a whole host of terrific performers: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, David Strathairn ... I could go on, simply phenomenal casting! I wanted more of them all, and yet felt I got the perfect amount too.

The 150 minute run time went by incredibly quickly for me; if I hadn't known it was on for that long, I would never have guessed its length to be anywhere near that. It's a slow burn, but a slow burn done tremendously. Guillermo del Toro - this is the first film of his I've seen - & Co. did a super job, I have no complaints at all. I was toying for ages between a 9 or a 10 rating, it just about creeps its way into the latter.

Just brilliant. Go watch!… Expand

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5

BigEggsKitchenDec 19, 2021

Overly long, too little payoff. Directing, costuming and acting are all top notch but it can’t save it

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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7

davemelbourne58Dec 27, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Nightmare Alley looks great, and has a great cast of REAL characters...it's just hard for me to root for anybody save for Rooney Mara who tried to run away from greedy huckster played by Bradley Cooper. Cate Blanchette wrote the book on Femme Fatales, and she doesn't disappoint here. Style trumps substance, but it was much better than Guillermo's last overated pot-boler/rom-com.… Expand

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9

hardkotJan 23, 2022

Brilliant thriller

I went to the cinema on this film because trailer was really intriguing and it was th best thriller I've see in cinema for the past few years. Guillermo del Toro is real magician - I can swear I feel the atmosphere of thisBrilliant thriller

I went to the cinema on this film because trailer was really intriguing and it was th best thriller I've see in cinema for the past few years. Guillermo del Toro is real magician - I can swear I feel the atmosphere of this film from dirty misterious circus till the end. Everything works for this - great music, actors, color corection and visual. Story maybe not as stunning as it can be but still good and suspense works really well like in classic Hitchcock movies.

I think this film is a must see for all thriller lovers, you will like it!… Expand

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7

CalvinCrackDec 22, 2021

A bleak film without much reason to come back once you’ve seen it. It’s well shot, well performed and the production design is beautiful. If you enjoy Del Toro’s other films you should see this. It’s very well made. I just didn’t enjoy theA bleak film without much reason to come back once you’ve seen it. It’s well shot, well performed and the production design is beautiful. If you enjoy Del Toro’s other films you should see this. It’s very well made. I just didn’t enjoy the story very much and found myself bored at various points. I think his films aren’t for me, because I usually end up feeling in the 7/10 range on them. As an adaptation, it may be fantastic. I haven’t read the source material, so I can’t comment. As a film judged on its own merit, it left me wanting a deeper subtext, and better payoffs for various characters.… Expand

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10

BUGGADec 17, 2021

This was my most anticipated movie of the year and it did not dissappoint! In NIGHTMARE ALLEY we follow Stanton Carlisle, a con-man with a good eye for reading people, as he falls deeper and deeper into darkness. The con-man in question isThis was my most anticipated movie of the year and it did not dissappoint! In NIGHTMARE ALLEY we follow Stanton Carlisle, a con-man with a good eye for reading people, as he falls deeper and deeper into darkness. The con-man in question is played by Bradley Cooper in the performance of his career. Perfectly cunning, snobby and insecure. All the other actors also deliver great performances but their characters just weren’t deep enough for me to connect with. Although with all that said I do think that Cate Blanchett and David Strathairn deserves a special mention as they were the stand-outs from the supporting cast. Btw there is no way in hell Rooney Mara is lead in this. Litterally no argument for her being in lead. The directing by Guillermo Del Toro is outstanding as he brings his classic Del Toro touch to it and you can tell he’s having so much fun exploring this universe. Now I know a lot of people got problems with the pacing, but personally, I had no problems with it whatsoever. I was hooked from beginning to end and would’ve happily watched it for another 30 minutes. All the techs are on point, no complaints there, but the cinematography and production design are just outstanding. The way Dan Laustsen used lighting is just brilliant, and the set for the carnival in the beginning is some of the best I've seen.… Expand

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5

Brent_MarchantDec 26, 2021

Though stylish to a fault, director Guillermo del Toro's cinema noir tale about a Depression Era carny worker who hones his mentalist craft on the humbug circuit and then uses it to fleece gullible, wealthy members of high society has theThough stylish to a fault, director Guillermo del Toro's cinema noir tale about a Depression Era carny worker who hones his mentalist craft on the humbug circuit and then uses it to fleece gullible, wealthy members of high society has the makings of what should be a captivating watch. Note that I said should be. Unfortunately, this vastly, vastly overlong offering waters down its suspense to the point where the end can't come fast enough. A bloated script and insufficient editing heavily weigh down this misfire, which, despite its length, ironically somehow manages to come up short in the back story department. To its credit, "Nightmare Alley" is one of the most beautiful films of 2021 with its lavish production design, gorgeous cinematography and fine technical attributes. It also features a superb ensemble, with fine performances across the board, particularly those of Cate Blanchett, Willem Dafoe , David Strathairn and Richard Jenkins. But even those considerable strengths are not enough to save this protracted snooze, one that truly would have benefitted from a thorough going-over in the script and editing areas to mercifully chop out a plethora of extraneous, irrelevant material. Indeed, putting one's audience to sleep when they should be on the edge of their seats is no way to handle a film in this genre, an approach that, sadly, is deadlier than anything happening on screen.… Expand

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2

NavyBeanJan 31, 2022

So looooooong. So predictable. So nonsensical. Looks nice. I love Del Toro but there was no need for this movie to have been made.

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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1

dunnyoneMar 14, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's barely even a film. I'd call it a loosely strung-together collection of ideas culminating in absolutely nothing. Sure, visually it looks top-notch and the acting is fine but in terms of entertainment, you're simply better off not watching it. Nothing happens from beginning to end. Such high scores from other reviewers... but not from me. This is just an exercise in self-gratifiation by the director.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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6

billmarkmSep 24, 2022

Impeccable production design, riveting performances, and a cast of unlikeable characters. Like most things that are good for me, I’ll appreciate it more later on.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

MetacriticOnurFeb 2, 2022

admirable
[ ad-mer-uh-buhl ]

adjective
worthy of admiration; inspiring approval, reverence, or affection.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

dharmaMar 31, 2022

I was expecting another virtuoso from Del Toro, yet came out disappointed. Nightmare Alley though is him trying to do a film noir, impeccably produced and well acted as always. But it is paced exactly like a 40s film of that era. This alongI was expecting another virtuoso from Del Toro, yet came out disappointed. Nightmare Alley though is him trying to do a film noir, impeccably produced and well acted as always. But it is paced exactly like a 40s film of that era. This along with West Side Story is the studio pandering to their greatest talents to the max. Face it, who wants to watch this film in this time and age. The end result: a flop from the usually dependable director.… Expand