Nightmare Alley (2021)
★ ★★ ½
Even though this film leans more into film noir, director Guillermo del Toro has become the master of cinematic fairy tales. The carnival aspect of this tale leans into these tropes and del Toro has always loved exploring the sinister nature of man. He goes all-in with Nightmare Alley, making us follow Stan (Bradley Cooper) who is not a good guy from the get-go and never seems to follow a path of redemption.
I think I enjoyed the concept of this film more than the execution. Like with any del Toro film, Nightmare Alley is terrific to look at. The cinematography and production design alone make it worth watching. The elements in between those things are compelling, but the story left me looking for more. It takes a path that I wasn't quite expecting, which kept me invested, but I was never truly dupped or mesmerized like the audiences of this mentalist's antics. Even though this film is mainly set in the 40s, del Toro is playing with relevant themes of privilege and gaslighting that make up the film noir genre. Although this is a remake, it was nice to see something on the screen that felt original. You feel del Toro's dedication and passion behind the screen. If it wasn't for this and a very satisfying conclusion, I at times was wondering why this film runs two and half hours, but I think most people will be taken by this dark and twisted tale.
