Nightmare Alley (Exclusive Series) (HBO Max/Hulu)

Studios: Searchlight Pictures/TSG Entertainment

Plot: In 1940s New York, down on his luck Stanton Carlisle endears himself to a clairvoyant and her mentalist husband at a traveling carnival. Using newly acquired knowledge, Carlisle crafts a golden ticket to success by swindling the elite and wealthy. Hoping for a big score, he soon hatches a scheme to con a dangerous tycoon with help from a mysterious psychologist who might be his most formidable opponent yet.

Cast

Bradley Cooper - Stanton Carlisle

Cate Blanchett - Dr. Lilith Ritter

Toni Collette - Zeena the Seer

Willem Dafoe - Clem Hoatley

Richard Jenkins - Ezra Grindle

Rooney Mara - Molly Cahill

Ron Perlman - Bruno

Mary Steenburgen - Mrs. Kimball

David Strathairn - Pete

Jim Beaver - Sheriff Jedidiah Judd

Clifton Collins Jr. - Funhouse Jack

Lara Jean Chorostecki - Louise Hoatley

Tim Blake Nelson - Carny Boss

Writer(s): Guillermo del Toro (The Witches)

Kim Morgan

William Lindsay Graham (based on the novel by)

Director: Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water; Crimson Peak; Pacific Rim)

Rated R for strong/bloody violence, some sexual content, nudity and language (150 minutes)

Guillermo del Toro knows how to entertain an audience. Del Toro gave us the ‘Hellboy’ movies, ‘The Shape of Water,’ ‘Crimson Peak,’ ‘Pacific Rim’ and also helped put together the 2019 movie ‘Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark’ (and its sequel that’s in pre-production now). And, now, he brings us the unique film ‘Nightmare Alley.’

‘Nightmare Alley’ delivers a lot of mystery and good twists and turns along the way. The 2021 psychological mystery can be very complex at times.

Throughout the course of the film, there is a lot going on with the story and it works out nicely. The characters are incredible and the performances are tremendous. In fact, the entire film is well done. Well, most of it. It does get a little slow in the middle of the film (which could have been a tad shorter). The third act and the ending are truly compelling and you don’t see the ending coming at all.

‘Nightmare Alley’ can be suspenseful in quite a few scenes and can be quite tense as well. Especially when you are trying to figure out what the Bradley Cooper character will be doing next. And, just like most of the works of Guillermo del Toro, you will definitely be entertained!

You can currently stream ‘Nightmare Alley’ on both the HBO Max and Hulu streaming platforms.

Here are some interesting tidbits for ‘Nightmare Alley’:

• Most of the early scenes were filmed after production was suspended during the pandemic. Cooper used the time to lose fifteen pounds and appear younger for the beginning of the film.

• Cooper learned how to box in preparation for his role at the request of del Toro, who wanted Cooper to convey through body language that Santon has had a violent past.

• Del Toro’s film isn’t a remake of the 1947 film ‘Nightmare Alley,’ but a re-adaptation of William Lindsay Graham’s novel.

• Ron Perlman’s seventh collaboration with director Guillermo del Toro.

• Jennifer Lawrence and Lady Gaga were considered for the role of Molly Cahill.

• The project was announced in December 2017; The film marks a departure for del Toro, as it contains no supernatural elements, as opposed to his previous films.

• Principal photography began in January 2020 in Toronto. Production temporarily moved to Buffalo, New York in February 2020, in order for del Toro to take advantage of the city’s architecture and unfamiliar setting.

• Del Toro revealed that when production was shut down, approximately 45% of the film was shot, and he spent his time editing available footage during the hiatus.

• It had its world premiere at the Alice Tully Hall in New York on December 1, 2021, accompanied by simultaneous screenings at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in LA and the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto.

• On December 17, 2021, the day of the film’s release, Searchlight Pictures announced that a black and white version of the film, titled ‘Nightmare Alley: Vision in Darkness and Light,’ would be released the following month, on January 14, 2022, in select theaters in LA only, for up to six days. In January 2022, following the success of the showings, the version was announced to be broadening to other select cities.

• The film was released on the streaming services Hulu and HBO Max on February 1, 2022.

• As of March 2, ‘Nightmare Alley’ has grossed $11.2 million in the US and Canada, and $25.6 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $36.8 million.

• It’s low opening ($2.8 million) was attributed to it being primarily meant for the audiences in the older age ranges (who had avoided going out to see movies amidst the pandemic), low interest among the movie-going audience and the release of ‘No Way Home’ on the same date.

• Oscar nominations: Best Picture; Best Cinematography; Best Costume Design; Best Production Design.

https://youtu.be/Q81Yf46Oj3s