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CrimeDramaThriller

Nightmare Alley

- Man or beast.

An ambitious carnival man with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychologist who is even more dangerous than he is.

Release Date : 2021-12-02

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Searchlight PicturesDouble Dare You

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Nightmare Alley: Vision in Darkness and Light

Cast

Bradley Cooper

Character Name : Stanton Carlisle

Original Name : Bradley Cooper

Gender : Male

Cate Blanchett

Character Name : Dr. Lilith Ritter

Original Name : Cate Blanchett

Gender : Female

Toni Collette

Character Name : Zeena the Seer

Original Name : Toni Collette

Gender : Female

Willem Dafoe

Character Name : Clem Hoatley

Original Name : Willem Dafoe

Gender : Male

Richard Jenkins

Character Name : Ezra Grindle

Original Name : Richard Jenkins

Gender : Male

Rooney Mara

Character Name : Molly Cahill

Original Name : Rooney Mara

Gender : Female

Ron Perlman

Character Name : Bruno

Original Name : Ron Perlman

Gender : Male

Mary Steenburgen

Character Name : Mrs. Kimball

Original Name : Mary Steenburgen

Gender : Female

David Strathairn

Character Name : Pete

Original Name : David Strathairn

Gender : Male

Mark Povinelli

Character Name : The Major

Original Name : Mark Povinelli

Gender : Male

Peter MacNeill

Character Name : Judge Kimball

Original Name : Peter MacNeill

Gender : Male

Holt McCallany

Character Name : Anderson

Original Name : Holt McCallany

Gender : Male

Paul Anderson

Character Name : Geek #1

Original Name : Paul Anderson

Gender : Male

Lara Jean Chorostecki

Character Name : Louise Hoatley

Original Name : Lara Jean Chorostecki

Gender : Female

Jim Beaver

Character Name : Sheriff Jedediah Judd

Original Name : Jim Beaver

Gender : Male

Clifton Collins Jr.

Character Name : Funhouse Jack

Original Name : Clifton Collins Jr.

Gender : Male

Tim Blake Nelson

Character Name : Carny Boss

Original Name : Tim Blake Nelson

Gender : Male

David Hewlett

Character Name : Dr. Elrood

Original Name : David Hewlett

Gender : Male

Sarah Mennell

Character Name : Abigail

Original Name : Sarah Mennell

Gender : Female

Mike Hill

Character Name : Dogboy Jojo

Original Name : Mike Hill

Gender : Male

Caleb Ellsworth-Clark

Character Name : Drunk #1

Original Name : Caleb Ellsworth-Clark

Gender : Male

Dian Bachar

Character Name : Fee Fee the Birdgirl

Original Name : Dian Bachar

Gender : Male

Troy James

Character Name : The Snake Man

Original Name : Troy James

Gender : Male

Matthew MacCallum

Character Name : Human Skeleton

Original Name : Matthew MacCallum

Gender : Male

Samantha Rodes

Character Name : Zizi the Pinhead

Original Name : Samantha Rodes

Gender : Female

Jesse Buck

Character Name : Geek #2

Original Name : Jesse Buck

Gender : Male

Perry Mucci

Character Name : Hotel Manager

Original Name : Perry Mucci

Gender : Male

Bill MacDonald

Character Name : Stanton’s Dad

Original Name : Bill MacDonald

Gender : Male

Dan Lett

Character Name : Deputy #1

Original Name : Dan Lett

Gender : Male

Catherine McGregor

Character Name : Copa Woman

Original Name : Catherine McGregor

Gender : Female

Martin Julien

Character Name : Bus Station Shaving Man

Original Name : Martin Julien

Gender : Male

Natalie Brown

Character Name : Lilith’s Receptionist

Original Name : Natalie Brown

Gender : Female

Daniel Falk

Character Name : Patron #1

Original Name : Daniel Falk

Gender : Male

Tim Post

Character Name : Armed Guard #1

Original Name : Tim Post

Gender : Male

Will Conlon

Character Name : Armed Guard #2

Original Name : Will Conlon

Gender : Male

Stephen McHattie

Character Name : Hobo #1

Original Name : Stephen McHattie

Gender : Male

James Collins

Character Name : Train Yard Man

Original Name : James Collins

Gender : Male

Lili Connor

Character Name : Woman in Floral Dress

Original Name : Lili Connor

Gender : Female

Danny Waugh

Character Name : Piano Player

Original Name : Danny Waugh

Gender : Male

Walter Rinaldi

Character Name : Drunk

Original Name : Walter Rinaldi

Gender : Male

Andrew Locke

Character Name : Train Worker

Original Name : Andrew Locke

Gender : Male

Calvin Desautels

Character Name : Policeman

Original Name : Calvin Desautels

Gender : Male

Derrick Moore

Character Name : Stagehand

Original Name : Derrick Moore

Gender : Male

Linden Porco

Character Name : Brofo the Small

Original Name : Linden Porco

Gender : Male

Grant Bradley

Character Name : Deputy #2

Original Name : Grant Bradley

Gender : Male

Dani Klupsch

Character Name : Geek Pit Patron

Original Name : Dani Klupsch

Gender : Female

Vikki Ring

Character Name : Geek Pit Patron

Original Name : Vikki Ring

Gender : Female

Vanessa Botbyl

Character Name : Geek Pit Patron

Original Name : Vanessa Botbyl

Gender : Female

Michael Bridgeman

Character Name : Geek Pit Patron

Original Name : Michael Bridgeman

Gender : Male

Charles Langille

Character Name : Geek Pit Patron

Original Name : Charles Langille

Gender : Male

Paul Taylor

Character Name : Geek Pit Patron

Original Name : Paul Taylor

Gender : Male

Clyde Whitham

Character Name : Geek Pit Patron

Original Name : Clyde Whitham

Gender : Male

Romina Power

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Romina Power

Gender : Female

Keith Lukowski

Character Name : Security Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Keith Lukowski

Gender : Male

Reviews

G

garethmb

@garethmb

2021-12-02

Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper); is a man trying to get by in late 1930s America in the new film "Nightmare Alley". Our first introduction to Stanton is less than flattering and he soon finds himself employed at a Carnival after coming upon it by chance. The eager Stanton is given advice and tools of the trade by his boss Clem (Willem Dafoe) as well as the mystic Zeena (Toni Collette) and Stanton eagerly wants to get ahead. While striking a friendship with fellow employee Molly (Rooney Mara); Stanton learns that Zeena's older and alcoholic husband has a skill from a former act where he learns to read people and use verbal cues to appear to have the power of clairvoyance. Eventually, Stanton seeks bigger opportunities and leaves with Molly for the city where they in time develop a successful act that offers them two shows a night at a fancy hotel and some of the finer things in life. Unwilling to be content with what he has; Stanton becomes involved with a Psychologist named Lilith (Cate Blanchett) and uses her knowledge to set up higher-profile marks who will pay well for his supposed abilities and in doing so; sets a dangerous chain of events into motion. The film is based on the 1946 book of the same name and an earlier 1947 film, and while it does an amazing job with the visuals and moody atmosphere of the era; it is a very long and slowly-paced film. The movie is over 2.5 hours long and comes across as overly long and self-indulgent as Director Guillermo del Toro could easily have shaved 30-45 minutes from the film and told the story without losing much. The cast and performances are very good but a slow-paced and dour film is not an ideal way to spend 2.5 hours at the movies no matter how much it has going for it. The movie does have some good points but I think it will do much better on streaming and home video where audiences can pause and take a break. If you are a fan of the Noir style of old; then this may be just what you are looking for, but I think it should have been so much more. 3.5 stars out of 5.

C

Chris Sawin

@ChrisSawin

2021-12-13

The duration of _Nightmare Alley_ may seem like a slog even as you’re watching it. On one hand, your mindset is essentially, “How many times do I have to watch Bradley Cooper read a book and point at his temple over and over for two and a half hours?” But _Nightmare Alley_ is expertly crafted in a way that every sequence feels relevant later on and it leaves you with a lot to ponder after it ends. It’s a beautiful film with an incredible cast full of strong performances from del Toro regulars. It may feel like an extreme case of a slow burn, but it’s also a rare instance where it’s worth your valuable time and the investment. The audience being in on the con from the start makes you feel like part of the carny family. At this point in his illustriously hellish career, _Nightmare Alley_ is arguably Guillermo del Toro’s best written film. **Full review:** https://boundingintocomics.com/2021/12/13/nightmare-alley-review-a-murky-noir-that-tinkers-with-greatness/

R

r96sk

@r96sk

2022-02-04

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!

B

beyondthecineramadome

@beyondthecineramadome

2022-07-15

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-07-07

Bradley Cooper picks up the baton from Tyrone Power (1948) as the ambitious "Stanton Carlisle", a shrewd young man who works the travelling shows with an eye for the main chance. That chance comes when he hooks up with Toni Collette's "Zeena", who shows him the tricks of their mentalist trade. Pretty soon they are fooling the great and the good - and he meets "Dr. Ritter" (Cate Blanchett). She is a psychiatrist, every bit as ambitious and ruthless as he and is content to share some of the innermost secrets of her clients with him so he can exploit their suffering. To the top of their list goes sceptical millionaire "Ezra Grindle". Together they conjure up one hell of a sting on this man - but can they succeed? This film looks great, but I found it took too long to become interesting. Cooper is handsome, but struggles with the unscrupulousness that the part needed to convey, and his scenes with Blanchett lack chemistry, indeed it is Collette who really steals the few scenes she is in - especially towards the rather twisted end of the tale. It is good, but maybe just had too much time and money and the story sacrificed some of it's soul here.

T

The Movie Mob

@mooney240

2022-09-03

**RUN! Save yourselves!** The cinematography makes this movie lovely to watch while being miserable to experience. Filled with amazing actors trying to make sense of a film riddled with plot holes and disappointment. I was hoping for a good Del Toro horror movie and sadly was met with a poorly executed mystery romp... spent the whole movie hoping the ending would somehow save it... and sadly, it did not.