Nightmare Alley Review

December 3, 2021 at 5:56pm
By Jason Stettner

This is a remake of a 1940’s film which in turn was based on a book. Whatever the case, it’s been so long that few will make that connection. I thought it might be a fun mention to help expand the scope of my review in a sense, just like with how bloated the run time was on this one. It’s almost two separate films squished together and I don’t think that was the best way to tackle it.

The first half is the long build of learning the art of deception in a carnival, the latter half being the climb to fame and the dangers it brings. It’s actually a fairly decent viewing, but one that might be harder to sit through due to its runtime and I can feel that may not be quite as appealing for all as it does stretch on at times.

That being said, I was largely engaged despite it even coming across as very predictable in where things were headed from an early on stand point. Still, it’s really neat to see the slow burn as this man Stan (Bradley Cooper) arrives at a carnival to then make a mark with the people there. He showcases creativity, an eagerness to learn and then eventually over ambition.

He splits from the group with the love interest, Molly (Rooney Mara) who has similar ambitions but there is always a divide between the two. The second half is where things get a bit more wild, but alas with it being a split of almost two films neither side really gets the focus it properly needed to feel cohesive. It definitely does a full circle sort of maneuver, but that will likely be apparent very early on.

This was beautifully shot, the cinematography was quite capturing. From very dark moments that set a deep mood, to some of the more vibrant lively carnival scenes. It’s very stylistic in that sense, and it captures the era well. This is matched with great audio, and excellent performances from the cast.

Some of the side members do sort of vanish over time, and perhaps not everything even ends up getting finished in terms of story. There were many, even important characters that are sort of left with a drifting conclusion. Still, Cooper does an excellent job as the lead and so does the very strong performance from Mara. Cate Blanchett takes on the role of a psychiatrist, Lilith and is perfectly cold in that role.

You also get some smaller moments with Willem Dafoe being a bit of a sleazy carnival individual and David Strathairn as a rather washed out magician. In general, great acting here and a very visually appealing piece. I did find the weird simple fade transitions a tad odd, but perhaps they aimed to emulate the time piece that this film was presenting.

The Conclusion

Nightmare Alley is an enjoyable experience, a tad long for sure and perhaps something that feels almost like two separate movies. It still delivers something that was definitely unique, despite being a remake of course. It has strong performances from the many high level actors that are present and it may surprise some viewers.

I did find it a tad too predictable, even from an earlier point and it was a long watch to get where I assumed it was going to head. It still has a very stylish way of showcasing this rise, featuring some great environments that captured the era and a good usage of music that carried the mood.

This is certainly a distinct offering in this year of film. One that should provide some quality entertainment, while at the same time perhaps being too long for some that are intrigued by what it has to offer. You definitely might have a moment or two of surprised shock, it does hit that mark quite well at times.

Nightmare Alley Review at Theater with Standard Viewing
Screening was Provided by AGM

Rating Overall: 6.5