Nightcrawler

Name: Nightcrawler
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: October 31, 2014
Duration: 117 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Bill Paxton, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 45 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 1319 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 1319 Ratings

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Nightcrawler

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Movie Details & Credits

Open Road Films (II) | Release Date: October 31, 2014 | R

Starring: Bill Paxton, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo

Summary: Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a driven young man desperate for work, discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling -- where each police siren wail equals a possible windfallLou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a driven young man desperate for work, discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling -- where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by Nina (Rene Russo), a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news, Lou blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. [Open Road]… Expand

Director: Dan Gilroy

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 117 min

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Critic Reviews

100

RogerEbert.com Matt Zoller Seitz

Oct 31, 2014

This is a classic film, not just because every scene and line is casually beautiful and devoid of extraneous touches, but because its tone is mercilessly exact. Read full review

Film.com Jordan Hoffman

Sep 9, 2014

A fantastic, sleek and fun satire. Read full review

Richard Corliss

Oct 30, 2014

If you see him (Jake Gyllenhaal)onscreen in Nightcrawler, you’ll have a closeup view of one of the movie year’s most compelling sociopaths. He’s something you can’t turn away from. Read full review

The Guardian Henry Barnes

Sep 14, 2014

From a subdued start Nightcrawler unfurls into a ghoulish and wickedly funny satire on journalism, the job market and self-help culture. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Oct 30, 2014

The film has a sulfuric, Dostoyevskian quality — and sick sense of humor — that captures the muted aquarium that Los Angeles becomes at night, a spell that’s broken once plot overtakes mood. Read full review

McClatchy-Tribune News Service Roger Moore

Oct 29, 2014

Rene Russo is spot-on as Nina, an aging TV news director who is the only person Bloom will sell his footage to. Read full review

David Edelstein

Oct 31, 2014

After a few minutes you know everything about Louis you’re going to know; the only surprise in Nightcrawler is the level of grotesqueness it achieves. There’s more insight (and entertainment) in an average sketch from the old SCTV series; I kept imagining Joe Flaherty’s horror host Count Floyd climbing out of his coffin and chanting, “Oooh, that Louis, he’s veh-ry skerrrr-y, kiddies — ahwoooooooo!” Read full review

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User Reviews

All_ButTrU4

Jul 17, 2021

My favourite movie ever. Despite the predictability of the storyline the great performance from Jake elevates the film. A terrifying look at our society's oppressive obsession for violence and our own hypocrisy.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

exmordis

Oct 31, 2014

Nightcrawler is a modern achievement.

Jake Gyllenhaal plays a sociopath bent on success, and he won't let anything or anyone stand in his way. Gyllenhaal is really hitting his stride this year, complete with this movie, Enemy, and Prisoners. I personally think this is his best role yet.Nightcrawler is a modern achievement.

Jake Gyllenhaal plays a sociopath bent on success, and he won't let anything or anyone stand in his way. Gyllenhaal is really hitting his stride this year, complete with this movie, Enemy, and Prisoners. I personally think this is his best role yet. He is utterly disturbing at one point, hilarious at another, and horrifying at others. I spent the entire movie wondering if he could top the insanity of the last line he said, and he always did.

The cinematography is beautiful and the editing is crisp and fast. Do not think this is an action movie, it is very much a thriller. However, one scene in the movie has some of the best editing and shots I've seen in an action scene in the past few years.

Story is interesting and lets you dive into the intricacies of crime reporting in Los Angeles. There were some very minor things I would change to let the movie feel more sturdy near the end, but it felt complete.

This is a movie you have to see. Gyllenhaal should be guaranteed an Oscar Nomination.… Expand

33 of 40 users found this helpful337

sepeh

Dec 20, 2014

The Movie Is Great!

Jake Plays Like De Niro in Taxi Driver,and his Performance is great, I think or I hope that This Film Won the Oscars and Lead Actor for Jake Gyllenhaal

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MattBrady99

Mar 10, 2015

Lou Bloom: "Steady hands, steady hands".

The story is about a young man, desperate for work, stumbles upon the seedy underworld of L.A.'s crime journalism. The break-neck pace is all about being the first on the scene - murder, accidents, fires, mayhem - and selling the gratuitous footageLou Bloom: "Steady hands, steady hands".

The story is about a young man, desperate for work, stumbles upon the seedy underworld of L.A.'s crime journalism. The break-neck pace is all about being the first on the scene - murder, accidents, fires, mayhem - and selling the gratuitous footage to the local news stations. But the better he gets, the more likely he is going to become the next story.

I heard so many great things about Nightcrawler. The critics said the same like, "It's a flawless peace of entertainment" or "One of the best movie of the year".- So I was looking forward to the movie by hearing all the good buzz from it, and after seeing it I can say that this movie is flawless.

Jake Gyllenhaal gives one of his best performance he ever did in his career. He lost a lot of weight for this role and I can say it pays off so well. I love how he makes his character so creepy, but so interesting to watch on screen. I swear to god if he doesn't get a Oscar nomination for his performance in this movie, I will be angry and disappointed at the Oscars, because when I watch a movie and don't see the actor, just the character that right they is talent.

The director of this movie (Dan Gilroy) and he was only a screenwriter for most of his career and this movie is his first time directing and my god his he brilliant. Dan Gilroy but a lot of effort in this movie and I heard that the director of the movie actually met some people who do these things that people call "Nightcrawling", and to me that shows that this guy should make more films in future, because he's the kind of director that movie need.

The writing in this movie is some of the best writing I've seen since Boyhood, I mean every sentence in this movie glues me in it's story and character's. The move itself has that dark, uneasy and hash look to it, but that's life. The shots were good, the other cast member's were great as well.

But as I said in my Interstellar and The Guest review, the movie isn't going to get the perfect rating of five out of five star's, but the movie is still brilliant.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

danipp

Mar 13, 2015

Jake Gyllenhaal is incredible in this adventure of a criminal cinematographer who is capable of doing anything to achieve his goals and be successful. Lou is a systhematic and pragmatic guy who is determined to find a good job and with a simple camera and a lot of boldness he manages toJake Gyllenhaal is incredible in this adventure of a criminal cinematographer who is capable of doing anything to achieve his goals and be successful. Lou is a systhematic and pragmatic guy who is determined to find a good job and with a simple camera and a lot of boldness he manages to catch Nina's attention and sold her his work. And knowing how much she depends on his images to keep her job, he'll become more and more demanding as the time goes by. He also won't think twice about doing evil things to gain more space on screen. Rene Russo does an amazing job as Nina, such as Riz Ahmed as Rick. Bill Paxton promissed something good at the beginning but he totally vanishes, never to be seen again. Another weak point in the script is the lack of background in the life of Lou. On the other hand, these things don't get in the way of this amazing first film of Dan Gilroy. Nightcrawler is crazy, scary and electricfying.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JeBjBo

Dec 29, 2021

Great photography, acting, and direction paired with a satirical story about the sensationalism of news media outlets.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bigfoot6463

Nov 1, 2014

Major Disappointment! Predictable to the point of no return. If you know what is going to happen throughout the movie, what fun or enjoyment can anyone get from that?
Slow paced and almost no pulse for most of the film. Even the twist at the end was not a twist at all because you knew itMajor Disappointment! Predictable to the point of no return. If you know what is going to happen throughout the movie, what fun or enjoyment can anyone get from that?
Slow paced and almost no pulse for most of the film. Even the twist at the end was not a twist at all because you knew it was coming 20 minutes into the movie. No thrills here to be found.… Expand

6 of 81 users found this helpful675

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98	#98 Best Movie of 2014
25	#25 Most Discussed Movie of 2014
14	#14 Most Shared Movie of 2014