NIGHTMARE ALLEY [2021 / 2022] [Exclusive Limited SteelBook] [Blu-ray] UK Release] ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ is a “neo-noir” knockout from Director Guillermo del Toro!
From visionary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes this “film noir” style psychological thriller starring Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett. When a manipulative carnival man Stanton “Stan” Carlisle [Bradley Cooper] teams with an equally deceptive psychiatrist Dr. Lilith Ritter [Cate Blanchett] to grift the wealthy in 1940’s New York society, carnival man learns that his new partner in crime might be his most formidable opponent yet.
‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ is directed by Guillermo del Toro, who co-wrote the screenplay with Kim Morgan and based on the William Lindsay Gresham’s 1947 novel “Nightmare Alley.”
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 2021 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards: Nominated: Best Art Direction/Production Design. Nominated: Best Use of Visual Effects. 2021 Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards: Nominated: Best Picture. 2021 Hollywood Music In Media Awards: Nominated: HMMA Award for Best Original Score for a Feature Film for Nathan Johnson. 2021 Indiana Film Journalists Association, USA: Nominated: IFJA Award for Best Actor for Bradley Cooper. Nominated: IFJA Award for Best Supporting Actress for Cate Blanchett. 2021 Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards: Nominated: Sierra Award for Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. 2021 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: Nominated: Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell. 2021 National Board of Review, USA: Win: NBR Award for Top Films. 2021 Nevada Film Critics Society: Win: NFCS Award for Best Director for Guillermo del Toro. Win: NFCS Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Guillermo del Toro and Kim Morgan. Win: NFCS Award for Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell. Win: NFCS Award for Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. 2021 Philadelphia Film Critics Circle Awards: Win: Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. Nominated: Best Picture. Nominated: Best Director for Guillermo del Toro. Nominated: Best Actor for Bradley Cooper. 2021 Phoenix Critics Circle: Nominated: PCC Award for Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. 2021 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards: Win: Top Ten Films. Nominated: Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell. 2021 Portland Critics Association Awards: Nominated: Best Director for Guillermo del Toro. Nominated: Best Female Supporting Role for Cate Blanchett. Nominated: Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. Nominated: Best Costume Design for Luis Sequeira. Nominated: Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell. 2021 St. Louis Film Critics Association, USA: Nominated: SLFCA Award for Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell. 2021 Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards: Nominated: Best Production Design for Shane Vieau (set decorator) and Tamara Deverell (production designer). 2022 Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Motion Picture of the Year for Bradley Cooper (producer), Guillermo del Toro (producer) and J. Miles Dale (producer). Nominated: Best Achievement in Production Design for Shane Vieau (set decoration) and Tamara Deverell (production design). Nominated: Best Achievement in Costume Design for Luis Sequeira. Nominated: Best Achievement in Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. 2022 BAFTA Awards: Nominated: BAFTA Film Award for Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. Nominated: BAFTA Film Award for Best Costume Design for Luis Sequeira. Nominated: BAFTA Film Award for Best Production Design for Shane Vieau and Tamara Deverell. 2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Nominated: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for Cate Blanchett. 2022 AARP Movies for Grownups Awards: Win: Best Ensemble. Nominated: Best Director for Guillermo del Toro. Nominated: Best Supporting Actress for Cate Blanchett. Nominated: Best Supporting Actor for David Strathairn. Nominated: Best Screenwriter for Guillermo del Toro and Kim Morgan. 2022 ACTRA Awards: Nominated: ACTRA Toronto Award for Stunt Ensemble for Jamie Jones. 2022 AFI Awards, USA: Win: Movie of the Year. 2022 American Society of Cinematographers: Nominated: ASC Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Feature Film for Dan Laustsen. 2022 Art Directors Guild: Win: Excellence in Production Design Award for Period Film for Tamara Deverell, Brandt Gordon (art director), Colin Woods (assistant art director), Sorin Popescu (assistant art director), Jon Chan (assistant art director). Andy Tsang (assistant art director), John Moran (assistant art director), Theresa Shain (assistant art director), Jane Stoiacico (assistant art director), Chris Penna (assistant art director), Shirin Rashid (assistant art director), Henry Salonen (assistant art director), Danny Haeberlin (assistant art director), Barbara Agbaje (assistant art director), Thomas Inwood (assistant art director), Guy Davis (concept illustrator), Adrian Burnett (scenic artist), Soux Ellis (scenic artist) and Shane Vieau (set decorator). 2022 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Picture. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Director for Guillermo del Toro. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Production Design for Shane Vieau and Tamara Deverell. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Costume Design for Luis Sequeira. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Hair and Make-up. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Visual Effects. Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Score for Nathan Johnson. 2022 Chicago Indie Critics Awards: Win: Best Production Design for Shane Vieau and Tamara Deverell. Nominated: Best Costume Design for Luis Sequeira. Nominated: Best Make-up for Cliona Furey and Jo-Ann MacNeil. 2022 Columbus Film Critics Association: Nominated: COFCA Award for Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. Nominated: COFCA Award for Best Score for Nathan Johnson. 2022 Costume Designers Guild Awards: Nominated: Excellence in Period Film for Luis Sequeira. 2022 Denver Film Critics Society: Nominated: DFCS Award for Best Supporting Actress for Cate Blanchett. 2022 Discussing Film Critics Awards: Win: Jury Award for Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell. 2022 GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics: Nominated: Dorian Award for Visually Striking Film of the Year. 2022 Georgia Film Critics Association: Nominated: GAFCA Award for Best Production Design for Shane Vieau and Tamara Deverell. 2022 Gold Derby Awards: Nominated: Gold Derby Film Award for Production Design for Shane Vieau and Tamara Deverell. 2022 Hawaii Film Critics Society: Win: HFCS Award for Best Director for Guillermo del Toro. Nominated: HFCS Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Guillermo del Toro and Kim Morgan. Nominated: HFCS Award for Best Costume Design for Luis Sequeira. Nominated: HFCS Award for Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. Nominated: HFCS Award for Best Art Direction for Tamara Deverell. 2022 Hollywood Critics Association: Win: HCA Award for Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell. Nominated: HCA Award for Best Director for Guillermo del Toro. 2022 Houston Film Critics Society Awards: Nominated: HFCS Award for Best Director for Guillermo del Toro. Nominated: HFCS Award for Best Ensemble Cast. Nominated: HFCS Award for Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. 2022 International Online Cinema Awards: Nominated: Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell. 2022 Latino Entertainment Journalists Association Film Awards: Nominated: Best Director for Guillermo del Toro. Nominated: Best Adapted Screenplay for Guillermo del Toro and Kim Morgan. Nominated: Best Production Design and Set Design for Shane Vieau and Tamara Deverell. Nominated: Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. Nominated: Best Costume Design for Luis Sequeira. Nominated: Best Hair and Make-up for Cliona Furey and Jo-Ann MacNeil. 2022 Minnesota Film Critics Alliance Awards: Win: Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell. Nominated: Best Picture. Nominated: Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. Nominated: Best Costume/Make-up. 2022 Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA: Win: Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing for Feature Dialogue/ADR for Jill Purdy (supervising sound editor, supervising dialogue editor, supervising adr editor) and Nelson Ferreira (dialogue editor). Nominated: Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing for Feature Music for Cecile Tournesac (scoring editor), Clint Bennett (music editor) and Kevin Banks (music editor). Nominated: Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing for Feature Effects/Foley for Andy Malcolm (foley artist), Chelsea Body (foley editor), Dashen Naidoo (sound effects editor), Goro Koyama (foley artist) and Nathan Robitaille (supervising sound editor). 2022 Music City Film Critics' Association Awards: Nominated: Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell. 2022 North Carolina Film Critics Association: Nominated: NCFCA Award for Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. Nominated: NCFCA Award for Best Costume Design for Luis Sequeira. Nominated: NCFCA Award for Best Hair and Make-up. Nominated: NCFCA Award for Best Sound Design. Nominated: NCFCA Award for Best Production Design for Shane Vieau and Tamara Deverell. 2022 North Dakota Film Society: Nominated: NDFS Award for Best Picture for Bradley Cooper, Guillermo del Toro and J. Miles Dale. Nominated: NDFS Award for Best Director for Guillermo del Toro. Nominated: NDFS Award for Best Actor for Bradley Cooper. Nominated: NDFS Award for Best Production Design for Shane Vieau and Tamara Deverell. Nominated: NDFS Award for Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. 2022 Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Awards: Nominated: OFCC Award for Best Film. 2022 Online Film & Television Association: Nominated: OFTA Film Award for Best Casting. Nominated: OFTA Film Award for Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell [2nd place]. 2022 Online Film Critics Society Awards: Nominated: Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell. 2022 San Diego Film Critics Society Awards: Win: Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell for Shane Vieau. Nominated: Best Director for Guillermo del Toro. Nominated: Best Supporting Actress for Cate Blanchett. Nominated: Best Adapted Screenplay for Guillermo del Toro and Kim Morgan. Nominated: Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. Nominated: Best Visual Effects. Nominated: Best Sound Design for Nathan Robitaille. 2022 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle: Win: SFBAFCC Award for Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell. Nominated: SFBAFCC Award for Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen. 2022 Santa Barbara International Film Festival: Win: Variety Artisans Award for Production Design for Tamara Deverell. 2022 Seattle Film Critics Society: Nominated: SFCS Award for Best Production Design for Shane Vieau and Tamara Deverell. 2022 Set Decorators Society of America: Nominated: SDSA Award for Best Achievement in Decor/Design of a Period Feature Film for Shane Vieau (set decoration) and Tamara Deverell (production design). 2022 The CAFTCAD Awards: Nominated: Excellence in Crafts and Building for Ahmad Zargaran, Carla Mingiardi, Loreen Lightfoot, Luis Sequeira, Phil Atfield and Tamiyo Tomihiro. Nominated: Best Costume Design in Film Period for Luis Sequeira (costume designer), Ann Steel, Suzanne Aplin, Claire Levick, Jozie Conte, Christina Cattle, Susan Nycz, Wayne Godfrey, Elayne Alexander, Rebecca McDermid, Amy Sztulwark, Hanne Whitfield, Heather Crepp, Anita Bacic, Nathalie Gysel, Sara Schilt, Gillian Steinhardt, Cathryn Wadden, Tamiyo Tomihiro, Phil Atfield, Loreen Lightfoot, Carla Mingiardi, Ahmad Zargaran, Lise St. Germain, Sylvie Bonniere, Jaya Nichol-Ducharme, Rebecca Fowler, Judy MacDougall, Alyssa Nasvadi, Ying Zhao, Teresa Artibello, Heather Rautiainen, Meghan Ancheta, Mélanie Turcotte, Tamara Rigby-Funke, Katy Clement, Robert Welsh, Debbie Williams, Jonathan Girard, Tess Barbieri, Julia Campisi, Lisa Prince, Charlotte Robertson, Sidney Sproule, Jean Wong, Roberto Paolo S Balinado, Shila Rashid and Jacqueline Rossini. Nominated: Excellence in Crafts for Textile Arts for Meghan Ancheta and Mélanie Turcotte. 2022 Vancouver Film Critics Circle: Nominated: VFCC Award for Best Actor for Bradley Cooper. 2022 Visual Effects Society Awards: Nominated: Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature for David Roby, Dennis Berardi, Geoff Hill, Mark O. Hammond and Ryan MacDuff. 2022 Writers Guild of America: Nominated: WGA Award (Screen) for Adapted Screenplay for Guillermo del Toro and Kim Morgan.
FILM FACT No.2: The project was announced in December 2017, when Guillermo del Toro revealed that he would be attached to write and direct a film adaptation of William Lindsay Gresham's 1946 novel. The film marks a departure for Guillermo del Toro, as it contains no supernatural elements, as opposed to his previous films. Guillermo Del Toro considered this to be a standalone adaptation of William Lindsay Gresham's novel, as opposed to a remake of the 1947 film version starring Tyrone Power. Guillermo Del Toro stated: “Well, what it is, is a book that was given to me in 1992 by Ron Perlman before I saw the Tyrone Power movie, and I loved the book. My adaptation that I've done with co-writer Kim Morgan is not necessarily — the entire book is impossible, it's a saga. But there are elements that are darker in the book, and it's the first chance I have — in my short films I wanted to do “film noir.” It was horror and noir. And now is the first chance I have to do a real underbelly of society type of film. [There are] no supernatural elements, just a straight, really dark story.” Guillermo Del Toro also revealed the film would be aiming for an R-rating, saying: “big R. Double R!” Dan Laustsen and Alexandre Desplat were announced to serve as the film's cinematographer and composer, respectively, both having previously collaborated with Guillermo del Toro in ‘The Shape of Water’ [2017]. Romina Power, daughter of actor Tyrone Power, who played Stanton "Stan" Carlisle in the 1947 film, cameos as a viewer of Stanton “Stan” Carlisle's show.
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman, Mary Steenburgen, David Strathairn, Mark Povinelli, Peter MacNeill, Holt McCallany, Paul Anderson, Lara Jean Chorostecki, Jim Beaver, Clifton Collins Jr., Tim Blake Nelson, David Hewlett, Sarah Mennell, Mike Hill, Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, Dian Bachar, Troy James, Matthew MacCallum, Samantha Rodes, Jesse Buck, Perry Mucci, Bill MacDonald, Dan Lett, Catherine McGregor, Martin Julien, Natalie Brown, Daniel Falk, Tim Post, Will Conlon, Stephen McHattie, James Collins, Lili Connor, Danny Waugh, Walter Rinaldi, Andrew Locke, Calvin Desautels, Derrick Moore, Linden Porco, Grant Bradley, Danielle Klupsch, Vikki Ring, Vanessa Botbyl, Michael Bridgeman, Charles Langille, Paul Taylor, Clyde Whitham, Stu Arthur (uncredited), Bob Bozek (uncredited), Diana Brugos (uncredited), Melania Fedyna (uncredited), William David Hobbs (uncredited), J. Timothy Hunt (uncredited), Kim Janveau (uncredited), Olia Kashevarova (uncredited), Liam Kinahan (uncredited), Raimo Kurppa (uncredited), Jeff Lasky (uncredited), Christine Lauer (uncredited), Keith Lukowski (uncredited), Doug MacDougall (uncredited), Mandi Maxwell (uncredited), Martin R Mlodozeniec (uncredited), Kaz Morgan (uncredited), Drew Nelson (uncredited), Bobbie Peterson (uncredited), Sylvain Plasse (uncredited), Romina Power (uncredited), Kerry Streams (uncredited), Neil Whitely (uncredited) and Shannon Widdis (uncredited)
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Producers: Bradley Cooper p.g.a., Guillermo del Toro p.g.a., J. Miles Dale p.g.a., John O'Grady and T.K. Knowles
Screenplay: Guillermo del Toro (screenplay), Kim Morgan (screenplay) and William Lindsay Gresham (based on the novel)
Composer: Nathan Johnson
Costume Design: Luis Sequeira
Visual Effects Supervisor: Dennis Berardi
Cinematography: Dan Laustsen, A.S.C., D.F.F. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English Descriptive Audio: 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio
François: 5.1 DTS Digital Surround Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, François, Español, Netherlands, Dansk, Suomi, Norsk and Svenska
Running Time: 150 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: SEARCHLIGHT Pictures / TSG Entertainment / 20th Century Studio
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ [2021] is based on the William Lindsay Gresham’s novel “Nightmare Alley” (1946) and is in a tradition that feels like the deformed twin of Horatio Alger’s American stories of hard-working, self-made men. Stanton “Stan” Carlisle [Bradley Cooper] is William Lindsay Gresham’s protagonist, and is self-acknowledged heel who’ll uses any trick, betray any friend, and resort to murder to rise from poverty.
The film is a classic gangster movie, but also of such cynical, state-of-the-nation tales, where the gangster must end up dead in the gutter, the hustler must suffer a ghastly, and eventually an ironic fate. Stanton “Stan” Carlisle is doomed to become the most despised performer in the carnival – the geek, who squats in a pit and bites off chicken heads.
Though Guillermo del Toro has played variations on classic horror and fantasy cinema or comic-book properties, and the 2021 film ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ is his first film based on a novel. It feels unlikely the material would have appealed to his very cinematic sensibilities if it hadn’t been filmed before.
The book is full of the sort of details that affronted the censors of the time, but Edmund Goulding’s film version of ‘Nightmare Alley’ [1947] is a remarkably faithful, aptly nightmarish adaptation. Reputedly, 20th Century Fox made it because the actor Tyrone Power insisted on the occasional challenging role amid his usual swashbuckling fare, and the troubled matinee idol gave his best screen performance as Stanton “Stan” Carlisle.
Decades on, the studio 20th Century Fox has now been absorbed into Walt Disney Pictures organisation, which represents a very different brand of “Carny” spirit – has its SEARCHLIGHT Pictures subdivision to mount such prestige, favour-to-the-talent properties. Guillermo del Toro followed up the Oscar-winning film ‘The Shape of Water’ [2017], gives the William Lindsay Gresham novel another going over – though, to be on the safe side, and Guillermo del Toro is also delivering a more appealing self-improvement fable in his next picture, the live version of ‘Pinocchio.’
For novelist William Lindsay Gresham, psychoanalysis is as much witchcraft as mentalism, Tarot reading or table-rapping, and Cate Blanchett is splendidly fiendish as the designer suited, incarnadine-lipped Dr. Lilith Ritter who assists Stanton “Stan” Carlisle in conning the gloomy, guilty marks of high society in a snowy city Buffalo, New York. Underlining themes already written in bold, the sessions on her office couch – in which Stanton “Stan” Carlisle confesses to a literally Oedipus Complex murder, repeated several times over – take away from rather than enhance Bradley Cooper’s clammy, queasy-making performance.
Guillermo del Toro adds what Orson Welles would do – who gets a nod when Stanton "Stan" Carlisle ends up at the Amberson Carnival – called a “dollar-book Freud,” as we frequently revisit a primal scene of slain father and burned-down homestead, whereas “you’re no good and neither am I” is diagnosis enough for Dr. Lilith Ritter and Stanton Carlisle’s partnership.
‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ [2021] has arrived with something of a fanfare and there is much that deserves to be trumpeted. Those visuals for one, the glowering atmosphere for another and the star studded cast, with a deliciously slippery Bradley Cooper, and an icy Cate Blanchett and the ever-reliable Peter “Pete” Krumbein [David Strathairn] as the clairvoyant’s vulnerable husband. But as to the story itself, is not quite as it should be. There are inconsistences: older carnival workers constantly describe Bradley Cooper’s character as “young” but obviously he is much closer to a 50 year old male.
As with many of Guillermo del Toro’s films, and with his 2021 filmed version of ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ [2021] when we arrive at the end of the film, it’s no surprise – except to the characters involved – but produces an indelible final image. Guillermo Del Toro has saved the best until last. But it also makes you want more from an eminently watchable “film noir” which promises volumes, delivers a great deal, and the reason why I enjoyed ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ [2021] is because it is visually gorgeous and pulls you in with its ambience and mystery. Guillermo Del Toro is an amazing brilliant director, and really makes the film look stunning. Cate Blanchett is phenomenal. Like all of Guillermo Del Toro's films, ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ [2021] is a visual feast, the production design and cinematography transports us into his grim and glossy dystopian vision. The best moments in this scenario really are some of the best scenes you will ever see, and they will stick with you for some time to come!
With ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ [2021] you get the same age-old question of nature vs. nurture seems to have been answered… and you may not like the answer!
NIGHTMARE ALLEY [2021] MUSIC TRACK LIST
THE MAN OF THE FLYING TRAPEZE (Lyrics by by George Leybourne and Gaston Lyle)
I GET THE BLUES (Lyrics by Armetia “Bo Carter” Chapman)
THIS YEAR’S KISSES (Sung by Hildegarde with Carroll Gibbons and His Boy Friends)
WHERE WAS I (Music by Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra)
OVER THERE (Lyrics by George M. Cohan)
IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME (Played on the Wurlitzer Pipe Band)
THE UMBRELLA MAN (Music by Kay Kyser & His Orchestra)
GIMME SOME OF THAT YUM YUM YUM (Sung by Andre Dassary)
UN AMOUR sans CHAGRIN (Music by Paul Misraki) (Lyrics by André Hornez) [Performed by André Dassary]
HUMORESQUE (Music by Antonín DvoÅ™ák)
SNAKEMAN SMILES (Lyrics by George Doering)
AMAPOLA (Sung by Tito Schipa)
ESTUDIANTINA WALTZ (Music by Emile Waldteufel) [Played by Paul Eakins on the Wurlitzer 157]
AT THE WOODCHOPPER’S BALL (Music by Woody Herman & His Orchestra)
ON THE BEAUTIFUL DANUBE (Played on the Wurlitzer Pipe Band)
PEACHERINE RAG (Music by Scott Joplin)
I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY (Lyrics by John Baptiste Calkin and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
OFFICER OF THE DAY (Played on the Wurlitzer Pipe Band)
ALL OF ME (Music by Count Basie and His Orchestra)
CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO (Music by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra)
CHEROKEE (Music by Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra)
LITTLE BROWN JUG (Music by Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra)
STICK VALVES (Lyrics by Louis Bilton)
Clarinet Sonata No.2 in E Flat Major, Op. 120 (Music by Andrew Moses and Martin Leung)
Orfeo Ed Euridice: Dance Of The Blessed Spirits (Radio Edit) (Music by Andras Korodi, Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra & Cristoph Willibald Gluck)
AMAPOLA (Music by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra feat. Bob Eberly and Helen O’Connell)
STARDUST (Written by Hoagy Carmichael)
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Blu-ray Image Quality – SEARCHLIGHT Pictures, TSG Entertainment and 20th Century Studio presents us the film ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ [2021] with a visually stunning 1080p image and really enhanced with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The film itself is visually arresting, and faithfully honours the artistry of cinematographer Dan Laustsen, who received a well-deserved Oscar nomination for his stunning work and masterfully recreates the look of the Golden Age of movies without abandoning contemporary conventions, and this transfer showcases their impeccable craftsmanship. We get an incredibly film-like image with excellent contrast, superior shadow delineation, and an array of vivid colours combine to create a pleasing picture accented by rich, inky blacks and crisp whites. Much of ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ takes place appropriately in either at night or in dark, murky interiors, but the picture is always beautifully defined. Gold tones predominate in Lilith's wood-trimmed office, emitting a warm glow, while a stark coldness pervades the carnival scenes, accentuating the grit, grime, and garishness. Bold reds, verdant greens, and cool blues accent the image, background elements are easy to discern, costume textures, falling snow, and noir accents like steam and swirling cigarette smoke are distinct, and close-ups are sublime. Not a single speck dots the pristine print and no digital artefacts intrude. So all in all, ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ definitely gets a top notch five star rating from me.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – SEARCHLIGHT Pictures, TSG Entertainment and 20th Century Studio brings us ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ [2021] with a wonderful evocative 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience and also provides a potent and immersive audio experience that greatly enhances the drama on screen. Plentiful surround action creates an immersive soundscape that thrusts us into the period atmosphere and carnival setting. Excellent stereo separation across the front channels creates additional aural interest, while an expansive dynamic scale embraces the understated yet potent film score by Nathan Johnson and handles all of its highs and lows without any distortion. Sonic audio experiences like gunfire, fisticuffs, revving car engines, and shattering glass are crisp, and all the dialogue is clear and easy to comprehend. Audiophiles and casual listeners alike will be thrilled by this active mix that's guaranteed to give your system a good workout and definitely get a top notch five star rating.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ – Guillermo Del Toro’s Neo-Noir [2022] [1080p] [1.78:1] [11:19] With this featurette, writer/director Guillermo del Toro and his standout cast decipher the dark, complicated world of ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY.’ The filmmaker reveals how he takes on “film noir” that is rooted in classic cinema but offers an accessible, modern narrative. Guillermo del Toro gives great praises of his cast and says, “one of the great American novels of the 20th century” and the main cast members like Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett, Ron Perlman, Richard Jenkins, and Toni Collette analyse the story, the setting, and their characters. They also praise their director in this slick, and it is a very entertaining featurette that also now and again shows clips from the film ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ [2021] and we also get lots of great behind-the-scene filming. Contributors include: Guillermo del Toro [Writer/Director], J. Miles Dale p.g.a. [Producer], Cate Blanchett [Dr. Lilith Ritter], Willem Defoe [Clem Hoatley], Ron Perlman [Bruno], Toni Collette [Zeena the Seer], David Strathairn [Pete] and Richard Jenkins [Ezra Grindle].
Special Feature: Beneath The Tarp [2022] [1080p] [1.78:1] [8:25] With this featurette, production designer Tamara Deverell and her talented team skilfully delivered both a decaying travelling carnival world and a gilded Art Deco high society with striking visuals. We explore how this design supported Guillermo del Toro’s genre-bending filmmaking. Once again is a very entertaining featurette that also now and again shows clips from the film ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ [2021] and we also get lots of great behind-the-scene filming. Contributors include: Guillermo del Toro [Writer/Director], Tamara Deverrell [Production Designer], Ron Perlman [Bruno], Willem Defoe [Clem Hoatley] and Cate Blanchett [Dr. Lilith Ritter].
Special Feature: What Exists In The Fringe [2022] [1080p] [1.78:1] [5:23] With this featurette, Costume designer Luis Sequeira unravels his collaboration with director Guillermo del Toro and reveals the symbolism that’s constantly at play in the film’s carefully crafted wardrobe’s design and informs us that they have 240 costume changes. Luis Sequeira also says that when it came to Stanton “Stan” Carlisle, the idea was to transform him from drifter to showman to down-and-out in two-and-a-half-hours. “With Bradley Cooper’s character, initially, it was taking away Bradley Cooper’s star quality, so everything hung a little bit,” says Luis Sequeira. “When we moved to the city, it was all about impeccable tailoring, the best of fits and the highest quality fabrics,” says Luis Sequeira. “Bradley Cooper’s city clothes were tailored made and based on a 1939 suit sourced from a UK rental house that had never been worn and still had its tags on. Nevertheless, Stanton “Stan” Carlisle clothes were designed to subtly garish, again to reflect his character,” says Luis Sequeira. Once again for the last time we get lots of behind-the-scene filming, as well as clips from the film ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ [2021], plus we get to see in the wardrobe department staff working on the costumes, and especially ageing them. We also get to see some wonderful colourful artistic costume designs. For the very last time, again we are shown clips from the film ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ [2021], but we also get view some great behind-the-scene filming. Contributors include: Guillermo del Toro [Writer/Director], Luis Sequeira [Costume Designer], Toni Collette [Zeena the Seer], Willem Defoe [Clem Hoatley] and Cate Blanchett [Dr. Lilith Ritter].
Finally, ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ [2021] is a very engrossing, stylish, seductive, and brimming with director Guillermo del Toro's inimitable brand of artistry, and the senses seriously explores the dark depths of the human soul. The accomplished cast embodies the grotesque characters in this seedy, violent tale of greed and grifting, but it's the hypnotic visuals that are the real star of this elegant yet disturbing film. But again with an excellent image transfer and reference-quality audio immerse us in this immoral underworld that comes closer to recapturing the essence of classic “film noir” than any other film of the 21st century. Guillermo del Toro occasionally gets lost in giving every emotional ambience room to breathe and grow. Those hoping for conventional, fatalistic “film noir” will come away disappointed; because director Guillermo del Toro’s imprint and penchant for stylistic flourishes, symbolism and melancholic romance throughout the film and gives us a soaring spectacle that definitely casts a spell without realising it. ‘NIGHTMARE ALLEY’ is strikingly image wise, totally gorgeous, expertly-constructed work, and is only recommended to those who have a very strong constitution. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
