Nightmare Alley (2021) - Excellent Gothic Atmosphere but Predictable Plot and Moral - 7/10 (10/03/22)

Nightmare Alley is a gothic tale that unites drama, horror and thriller elements all at once. Directed by experienced veteran Guillermo del Toro, the movie has an ambitious running time of two and a half hours. This movie is based upon a novel published shortly after the Second World War that had been adapted into a movie once before. While being nominated for multiple awards, this good movie however never reaches excellence or even perfection and should only be watched by genre fans and avid followers of the aforementioned director.

This film revolves around Stan Carlisle who has committed a crime and tries to move on with his life by joining a nearby traveling carnival. He starts as a jack of all trades before learning coded language and cold reading from aging alcoholic Pete and his seductive wife known as Madame Zeena. After a tragic incident, Stan decides to leave the carnival with fellow performer Molly as the two start having romantic feelings for each other. They relocate to Buffalo where they perform as a psychic act for the wealthy elite. Obsessed with attention, money and power, Stan slowly estranges from Molly and cooperates with manipulative psychologist Doctor Lilith Ritter. As they attempt to trick wealthy customers into paying them exaggerated fees to communicate with the dead, their criminal scheme soon spirals out of control and tragedy ensues.

Nightmare Alley manages to convince on a few levels. The movie's greatest element is its gloomy atmosphere from start to finish. It starts with the mysterious crime at the beginning of the film and ends with a heartbreaking tragedy. This film perfectly uses lighting techniques to enhance its dark mood. The settings such as a dirty carnival, a gloomy cemetery and a depressing homeless shelter blend in excellently. The acting performances are also quite decent. Bradley Cooper convinces as clever, manipulative and vile antagonist who ends up being haunted by his past. Rooney Mara impresses as charming, innocent and naive young woman who falls under the lead character's dangerous spell. Cate Blanchett delivers the goods as unpredictable femme fatale whose feelings and intentions are very difficult to figure out.

However, the movie also suffers from several flaws. First and foremost, it's at least a half hour too long. Especially the first hour of the movie that takes place at the carnival is quite stretched with many unnecessary scenes that don't add much to the movie. The story of this film is also predictable and makes what is intended to be the climax a lot less efficient. The movie's moral that crime doesn't pay off is also everything but creative even though it is of course quite accurate.

At the end of the day, Nightmare Alley should please cinephiles looking for an artistic, atmospheric and profound gothic movie with lots of style. Anyone who is interested in a gripping story or surprising movie might however end up being disappointed. Guillermo del Toro has to try to push the boundaries and separate from his usual trademark style to keep on developing his talent and bringing his career to the next level.