Nightmare Alley

Name: Nightmare Alley
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy
Released: December 17, 2021
Duration: 150 min
Rating: 70
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Clifton Collins Jr., David Strathairn, Holt McCallany

2021

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 55 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 200 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 200 Ratings

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Nightmare Alley

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Movie Details & Credits

Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: December 17, 2021 | R

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Clifton Collins Jr., David Strathairn, Holt McCallany, Lara Jean Chorostecki, Mark Povinelli, Mary Steenburgen, Paul Anderson, Peter MacNeill, Richard Jenkins, Romina Power, Ron Perlman, Rooney Mara, Tim Blake Nelson, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe

Summary: When charismatic but down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) endears himself to clairvoyant Zeena (Toni Collette) and her has-been mentalist husband Pete (David Strathairn) at a traveling carnival, he crafts a golden ticket to success, using this newly acquired knowledge to grift the wealthy elite of 1940s New York society. WithWhen charismatic but down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) endears himself to clairvoyant Zeena (Toni Collette) and her has-been mentalist husband Pete (David Strathairn) at a traveling carnival, he crafts a golden ticket to success, using this newly acquired knowledge to grift the wealthy elite of 1940s New York society. With the virtuous Molly (Rooney Mara) loyally by his side, Stanton plots to con a dangerous tycoon (Richard Jenkins) with the aid of a mysterious psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett) who might be his most formidable opponent yet.… Expand

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 150 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

NME Paul Bradshaw

Feb 10, 2022

Just as ugly and beautiful as any classic noir, del Toro’s dark, dazzling three-ring Hollywood circus proves the old-fashioned event film still has a lot of life left. Read full review

Justin Chang

Dec 16, 2021

It’s a film noir in much the same way that “Crimson Peak” was a horror movie: Feverishly and often magnificently overwrought, it treats its genre less as a template to be followed than a lavish funhouse in which to run amok. Its characters, tropes and archetypes, convincing enough on their own, take on even richer dimensions when placed alongside their antecedents. Read full review

Josh Larsen

Dec 14, 2021

Like each of del Toro’s nastier pictures, Nightmare Alley closes in on you with a hellish elegance. Read full review

Brian Truitt

Dec 14, 2021

Even though there are a bunch of interesting personalities (like Ron Perlman’s strongman Bruno), Nightmare Alley lacks the human connections that not only made del Toro’s last effort, best picture winner The Shape of Water, so entrancing but also populate the 1947 adaptation of Gresham’s book. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Dec 14, 2021

Nightmare Alley winds up being like one of the games on the midway, its outward appearance more impressive than what lies beneath. But what an appearance it is. Read full review

Tara Brady

Jan 19, 2022

Production designer Tamara Deverell and costume designer Luis Sequeira make for an arresting spectacle, one that is, ultimately, too luxurious for the sleazy travelling show and 1940s hoboism at the heart of the movie. Read full review

Cassie da Costa

Dec 18, 2021

There’s no shame in a remake where the re-rendering is genuinely fresh—but del Toro’s take empties its source material of significance, taking us for a gimmicky ride.a, who are too complex for their underwritten characters. Read full review

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User Reviews

BUGGA

Dec 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 is played by Bradley Cooper in the performance of hisThis 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

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

alejandro970

Feb 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 unexpected final act. A must see.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Sauce_boss

Jan 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 have been a mini series (or possibly I just wantedJust 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

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

HingleMcCringle

Feb 3, 2022

Pretty middle of the road for a GDT movie, certainly worth a viewing but the incredible and large cast felt mostly wasted here. I only saw the first trailer a while ago and wasn't sure what to expect when I started the movie but some of his usual supernatural elements would have benefitedPretty middle of the road for a GDT movie, certainly worth a viewing but the incredible and large cast felt mostly wasted here. I only saw the first trailer a while ago and wasn't sure what to expect when I started the movie but some of his usual supernatural elements would have benefited the narrative.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

d0vla11

Jan 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.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Brent_Marchant

Dec 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 the makings of what should be a captivating watch. NoteThough 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

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

dunnyone

Mar 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 1 users found this helpful01

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