Film Review: "Nightmare Alley" (2021).

From the director of The Shape of Water comes Nightmare Alley. This neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Guillermo del Toro, adapted by del Toro and Kim Morgan, and based on the 1946 novel of the same title by William Lindsay Gresham. An ambitious carny with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is even more dangerous than he is.

In December 2017, del Toro revealed that he would be attached to write and direct a new film adaptation of Gresham's novel. The film marks a departure for del Toro, as it contains no "supernatural" elements, as opposed to his previous films. Del Toro considered this to be a new standalone adaptation of Gresham's novel, as opposed to a remake of the 1947 film version. In April 2019, Leonardo DiCaprio entered negotiations to star in the film. However, DiCaprio opted out when negotiations fell through due to not reaching a financial agreement. In June 2019, Bradley Cooper entered early negotiations to replace DiCaprio. By mid September, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman, Mary Steenburgen, David Strathairn, Holt McCallany, Clifton Collins Jr., Tim Blake Nelson and Jim Beaver rounded out the cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in early December. Filming took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Buffalo, New York. In March 2020, Del Toro himself shut down production on the film after rising concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Production resumed in September. The film was originally scheduled for a December 3, 2021 release date, but was rescheduled to December 17, 2021.

The film stars Cooper, Blanchett, Collette, Dafoe, Jenkins, Mara, Perlman, Steenburgen, Strathairn, McCallany, Collins Jr., Nelson and Beaver. Cooper delivers a terrific performance as a natural conman whose charming veneer shatters as we're introduced to his ever-escalating schemes in the most brutal fashion. Cooper's commitment to such a morally detestable character displays a fearlessness that is rarely seen in cinema today.

Horror Maestro, Del Toro, has got closer than most to the bleak spirit of his film's source - Gresham's 1946 novel. No mean feat. The film's depth of darkness and amorality that grips. Definitely not for all, especially those easily disturbed by sheer, raw violence. Del Toro is all about commentary and debate and this vicious character study attempts to strip away the fable of the American dream. Fascinating, but not for the squeamish. This is compelling and challenging cinema, punctuated with genuinely shocking moments, by a director and a cast of actors who are right at the top of their game. Sometimes works, sometimes scores a near-hit and sometimes doesn't work at all, but is invariably fascinating throughout. Like much of Del Toro's genre-hopping, this venture into film noir fits him surprisingly well the first time he slips it on; though it could still do with a few alterations. If in the end it doesn't fully capture the malignant brilliance of its source...there's enough Gresham in it to make Stan Carlisle a guy worth spending a couple of hours with.

Simon says Nightmare Alley receives:

Also, see my review for The Shape of Water.