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Nightmare Alley (2021) Review

Absolutely Mental



SCORE: 85/100

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette

Synopsis: 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.

****BEWARE POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD****


REVIEW:

I was very excited going into Guillermo del Toro's latest film, as it seemed to be right in line with his previous work. After watching the film I can safely say that he still has his touch of making a masterful film, but this one has a little of that magic missing that made Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water so special.

This is an adaptation of an earlier book by William Lindsay Gresham, as well as a sort of remake of the 1947 film of the same name. Using those as a framework, del Toro is able to expand and add his signature flair to the story, which allows the awesome story to be accompanied by his inspired visuals. The carnival is a mixture of real and fantastical, with some elements coming off as something out of a Tim Burton film. However, since this is del Toro, it's far more adult, and every carny and location could have a film's worth of exposition behind them. 

Speaking of the carnies, let's talk about the cast. Bradley Cooper is fantastic here, playing a character so manipulative and layered. Cate Blanchett plays off of him beautifully, playing her character Dr. Ritter as charismatically as Cooper does. Toni Collette is wonderful as always, bringing a vigor to her character that I don't think another actress could have. Willem Dafoe is a tour de force as is usual, but his screen time felt shorter than I would've like. Rooney Mara, David Strathairn, Ron Perlman, and Richard Jenkins all turn in stellar performances as well, and now that I'm writing this I can safely say there isn't a weak link in the chain.

Where the film falters a little bit for me is that it's lacking the distinct del Toro supernatural quality. This film is well shot and well acted, but the lack of a true supernatural aspect feels like a step back from del Toro, but an admittedly small one. It doesn't detract from a fun and engaging slow-burn that is a pleasure to watch. My other chief criticism would be the length. I felt the film was a little too long, and could've been cut down a little. 

Guillermo del Toro has given us what seems like a true passion project, and it's easy to see the excitement behind the camera as with his other work, but its length makes it a little bit of an investment to watch.

Final Thought: While a little too long, Nightmare Alley is peak Guillermo del Toro without the supernatural flair, but brings awesome performances and a well crafted film. 

Score: 85/100

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