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Director Guillermo del Toro is known for his dark and haunting films—the kind that you might sometimes watch through the space between your fingers. And his remake of the 1947 classic Nightmare Alley is no different—taking full advantage of that darkness to tell the story of an ambitious man’s downfall.
Nightmare Alley stars Bradley Cooper as Stan Carlisle, a troubled young man who takes a job with a carnival when he has nowhere else to turn. While working with the other carnies, he discovers a talent for showmanship. With fellow carny Molly (Rooney Mara) at his side, he leaves the carnival to find a better life on stage as a mentalist. After years of mind tricks, he’s confident that he can do something bigger, convincing rich old men that he can communicate with the dead. But when he teams up with clever psychiatrist Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett), he soon finds himself in over his head.
Long before Stan meets Dr. Ritter, though, it’s quite clear that his ambition will get him into trouble. Stan takes a job with the carnival to escape his own dark past—and when he starts to learn the tricks of the trade, he seems just a little too comfortable, too eager to build the con. The film offers a whole lot of foreshadowing of what’s to come as Stan learns about the workings of the carnival—and as his mentors warn him of the dangers of believing one’s own lies. In fact, the foreshadowing is so heavy that the rest of the film doesn’t offer many surprises—and, at times, that makes the story move along more slowly than it could. Stan eventually starts believing too much in his own power—and that’s where things start to go wrong.
As Stan’s story spirals out of his control, though, you may end up distracted by the sheer beauty of it all. The sets, the cinematography…it’s all darkly stunning, using light and shadows and colors to make every frame an artistic masterpiece. Whether Stan makes his life amongst the tents and neon lights of the carnival or the glistening stage and luxurious suite of this nightclub gig, every glimpse offers so much to see and explore. The characters, too, are fascinating—from sweet, trusting Molly to elegant and mysterious Lilith. And while the story may not hold many surprises, you won’t be able to look away.
Nightmare Alley isn’t the kind of film that will grab your attention and keep you guessing—and, admittedly, that can be a letdown. But the art and beauty of the film will give you plenty to enjoy—even when the pacing slows.
Nightmare Alley opens in theaters on December 17, 2021.
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