NIGHTMARE ALLLEY

4 out of 5 stars

Step right up and behold Guillermo del Toro’s dark, hypnotizing throwback neo-noir thriller that’s not without its cracking bursts of horror. In case you didn’t know, this is technically a remake, but it’s practically impertinent as del Toro makes it feel quite original by putting his unmistakable mark on the material. Moreover, the production and sound design and costumes are immaculate. Beautiful and beastly – it’s entrancing from start to finish.

Bradley Cooper is superior as Stanton Carlisle – a bottom of the rung carnie who rises in the ranks of society after mastering the gift of manipulation – I mean mentalism. But his luck might just be running out when he tries his tricks on a threatening tycoon (a usually terrific Richard Jenkins) with the help of an enigmatic psychiatrist, played by a divine and bewitching Cate Blanchett. The moment her femme fatale shows up on screen, the entire film shifts to something much more mysterious and fascinating.

Up to its neck in dishonesty and exploitation, del Toro gushingly showcases humanity’s monstrous tendencies that spoil the soul. And its third act is when those irreversible ramifications have their vengeance and it’s devilish fun. When it’s all said and done, this frightfully consuming cautionary tale is an invariably strange yet spectacular attraction that’s more than worth the price of admission.

Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.

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