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- 2021
- R
- Searchlight Pictures
- 2 h 30 m
- 2021
- R
- Searchlight Pictures
- 2 h 30 m
SummaryWhen 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. Wi...
Directed By: Guillermo del Toro
Written By: Guillermo del Toro, Kim Morgan, William Lindsay Gresham
- 2021
- R
- Searchlight Pictures
- 2 h 30 m
- 2021
- R
- Searchlight Pictures
- 2 h 30 m
Nightmare Alley
70
7.1
My Score
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SummaryWhen 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. Wi...
Directed By: Guillermo del Toro
Written By: Guillermo del Toro, Kim Morgan, William Lindsay Gresham
Where to Watch
Coming Soon
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally FavorableBased on 55 Critic Reviews
70
69% Positive
38 Reviews
38 Reviews
31% Mixed
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
- All Reviews
- Positive Reviews
- Mixed Reviews
- Negative Reviews
Metascore
Generally FavorableBased on 55 Critic Reviews
70
69% Positive
38 Reviews
38 Reviews
31% Mixed
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
- All Reviews
- Positive Reviews
- Mixed Reviews
- Negative Reviews
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.
Dec 15, 2021
The darkness isn’t skin-deep; it permeates the material. Nightmare Alley may not be the feel-good film of 2021 but it leaves a lasting impression.
User Score
Generally FavorableBased on 269 User Ratings
7.1
71% Positive
190 Ratings
190 Ratings
25% Mixed
67 Ratings
67 Ratings
4% Negative
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
- All Reviews
- Positive Reviews
- Mixed Reviews
- Negative Reviews
User Score
Generally FavorableBased on 269 User Ratings
7.1
71% Positive
190 Ratings
190 Ratings
25% Mixed
67 Ratings
67 Ratings
4% Negative
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
- All Reviews
- Positive Reviews
- Mixed Reviews
- Negative Reviews
Jan 18, 2022
A rare del Toro film that’s not an outright spook show, Nightmare Alley isn’t quite the filmmaker’s best — but it’s not far off, boasting an enveloping atmosphere, compelling characters, and gorgeous filmmaking.
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.
Dec 21, 2021
Nightmare Alley is quite handsomely mounted and thematically resonant material for del Toro, but for a thriller to connect, it needs to deliver some real thrills along the way.
Dec 2, 2021
The period details are impeccable, the look and feel are seductive, but the muddled script lacks the killer instinct of its central figures.
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.
Feb 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 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!
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Dec 6, 2024
"Nightmare Alley" is a stylish and brooding neo-noir that evokes a sense of déjà vu, with impressive performances by Bradley Cooper as a morally ambiguous drifter and Cate Blanchett as a hypnotic femme fatale. Despite its familiar carnival setting and rise-and-fall narrative, the film feels more like a tribute to classic noir than an innovative take. Guillermo del Toro's direction offers a visual feast, but the emotional core feels hollow, reflecting Hollywood's creative rut and obsession with nostalgia. Although enjoyable in the moment, "Nightmare Alley" may not leave a lasting impression.
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Mar 26, 2024
Cool film. Snails pace. Del Toro is as big a fan of himself as Kojima was in gaming. Keep it succinct and entertaining as opposed to stroking your own ego next time.
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Feb 6, 2022
I've always felt that Del Toro dialogs suffer from trying way too hard to show a high degree of sophistication to the point of feeling fake, synthetic and sometimes the character's communication feels almost cartoonish. In other movies, monsters have found a way to balance this problem and make it forgivable, but this movie enhances this issue in the writing. I think this is a largely overrated movie and not worth waiting for more than two boring hours until something interesting happens.
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Production Company
- Searchlight Pictures
- Double Dare You (DDY)
- Ontario Creates
- Demilo Films
- TSG Entertainment
Release DateDec 17, 2021
Duration2 h 30 m
RatingR