NIGHTMARE ALLEY is a welcome departure from Guillermo del Toro. Stepping back from the supernatural, del Toro embraces the grit and grime underneath the skin of humanity. In pursuit of the American Dream, there are more stories about failure than successes. This latest endeavor shines a spotlight on a man too blind to see who he really is. As audiences will witness, his hubris and ego in the wake of his success is a slowly tightening noose around his neck. Whether or not he can loosen it in time, well, that is up to him.

To those who haven’t read the novel by William Lee Gresham or seen the 1947 adaptation, you’ll be okay. The story itself is straightforward. Down-on-his-luck con man Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) finds a traveling carnival show. He weasels his way into the fold with mixed success. It’s not long before he connects quickly with the clairvoyant Zeena (Toni Colette) and her husband, former mentalist Pete (David Strathairn). He quickly learns all Pete can provide, cultivating the skills needed before he can move on to something bigger. You see, that’s his goal. Bigger. Better. Something deserving of his greatness.

Taking the naive Molly (Rooney Mara) with him, he slaps together a grift that woos the wealthy elite. However, his grift is threatening to catch up with him. When he lays eyes on the wealthy Ezra Grindle (Richard Jenkins) and Dr. Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett) steps in with the assist, the cards of success are stacked up against him. All it’ll take is one card pulled to bring his whole plan down.

Bradley Cooper’s Stanley may be familiar to some. The ambitious man who seeks everything, yet can’t fill the void in his heart. NIGHTMARE ALLEY shines that spotlight on him. His journey is a reminder to us all of the dangers of pride. When we believe our own hype, failure is waiting in the wings to swoop on in. I cannot comment on previous iterations of the character. However, Cooper’s Stanley reads as muted. He is easily drowned out by those around him. This seems intentional, however. Stanley operates at a deficit. His strength of character is lacking. Placed against stronger personalities, it highlights the uphill battle he has crafted for himself.

The cast of characters we see onscreen shine individually, with not a bad performance in the bunch. To break them down could fill an entire article itself. That said, Cate Blanchett is deserving of everyone’s praise. Her Dr. Lilith is calculating. Much like Stanley, she only shows what she wants others to see. Blanchett and Cooper make compelling scene partners. It is when they are together that Cooper’s Stanley shines. Then again, Cooper’s Stanley shines the most when he is commanding attention. It is fascinating in connection with a line Stanley imparts in the film, “People want to show you who they really are.” Stanley, unbeknownst to him, shows who he is clearly. Blanchett’s Dr. Lilith has no problem peeling back the core of his psyche to do with as she sees fit.

NIGHTMARE ALLEY is a slow burn of a film, with a clear three-act structure from del Toro and Kim Morgan. Some may argue that the pacing needs work. The third act itself slams into the viewer like a train, with things escalating rather quickly. However, through numerous acts of foreshadowing and breadcrumbs sprinkled quite liberally throughout the story, it isn’t difficult to track where we are going. In fact, many might be able to predict what is to come before the third act even begins. For me, it wasn’t an issue. For other viewers, the callbacks and foreshadowing might sour the overall execution.

It isn’t truly a del Toro film without the below-the-line crafts blowing us away. Seriously, the man’s investment in his craftspeople always pays off. From the cinematography to the production design to the costumes, it all jives together in NIGHTMARE ALLEY. It easily sells the audience on the immersion that we need to slip back in time. Dan Laustsen, ASC, DFF, captures dark, visceral beauty. Some noteworthy shots capture either complete simplicity or stunning detail. There’s one shot of Bradley Cooper in a tub surrounded by flames that could easily be framed. Stunning. Laustsen’s frame captures the exquisite detailing of Production Designer Tamara Deverell‘s work, with Shane Vieau‘s set decoration adding that extra oomph to finish painting the picture.

The art department, led by supervising Art Director Brandt Gordon, should all get kudos. Nothing was spared here and it is clear their work shines through on the screen. Referencing the sets, these are easily set designs that I’d love to just walk through. Details – great and small – will draw the attention of many viewers. The usage of colors in the sets is such that they don’t distract from the performances. The same can be said about Luis Sequiera‘s costume work. The performers wear their clothing comfortably. Nothing is too elaborate that it detracts attention away from what’s happening onscreen. Actors and craftsmanship combine to bring NIGHTMARE ALLEY and this early ’40s era to life.

Overall, NIGHTMARE ALLEY is a pleasant surprise. Guillermo del Toro is known for his breadth of knowledge and love for cinema. The film is evocative of film noir, yet would not easily fit into that malleable category. It is an exploration of man’s failure. The sins of humanity are laid bare before us for our examination. No one is free from sin in this film. Morality is painted in shades of grey, with black splashes flicked throughout. We can see the warnings. We can see the signs that Stanley chooses to ignore through flashbacks, foreshadowing, and more. But, much like The Fates, we can only stand by and wait until he picks up those shears and cuts the thread that binds him himself.

Del Toro hides nothing from us to his detriment sometimes in his exploration beyond the supernatural this time around. With the arrival of Spider-Man: No Way Home this weekend, I imagine this film will get lost much like Crimson Peak. It may find its footing a year or so later to less distracted audiences. That said, I highly recommend NIGHTMARE ALLEY. If you aren’t up for superhero shenanigans, this psychological thriller is waiting for you to step up and watch.

NIGHTMARE ALLEY will open its curtains to venture into theaters tomorrow, December 17, 2021.