Directed and co-written by Guillermo del Toro(Pacific Rim), Nightmare Alley is a powerful and gripping mystery thriller, with some strangeness mixed in. Credible acting and a satisfying climax help offset some rather slow and odd scenes early on. The plot, while interesting, takes a while to get to its more thrilling moments. Once there, viewers are treated to cinematic bliss and will be happy they were patient with the development.
Stan Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) is not the run-of-the-mill carnival worker. At first sight, he may appear that way, but upon closer examination, one can see that glimmer in his eye. He is an ambitious man who happens to be a carny, but he has a vision to hit it big. Those dreams are not just for him, but also include the coworker for whom he pines, Molly Cahill (Rooney Mara). Electric as her stage performance is, she is also able to melt Stan's heart, and does. Sick of getting by day to day, Stan learns the tricks of the trade by observing Zeena the Seer (Toni Collette) and her sweet Pete (David Strathairn). Soon enough, he is ready to embark on a journey to greatness.
Once Stan convinces Molly to come onboard, spectators are catapulted ahead two years to find the couple on stage at a fancy event. They have found success, regularly performing shows and gaining admirers. One fateful evening, however, Dr. Lillith Ritter (Cate Blanchett) challenges the integrity of the spectacle in front of their audience. The result leads to a series of meetings, a battle of wits, and eventually a mysterious and enthralling turn of events that puts both Stan's love life and his hot streak of achievement to the test.
There is a lot to like and behold once the film gets to its destination. Sure, del Toro may take the road less traveled to get viewers there, but if they are willing to wait for it, the payoff is a big one. Cooper's portrayal of Carlisle is captivating, and he helps gather attention when certain scenes are otherwise lackluster, or a bit odd. Strathairn and Collete also come through enough, but the film doesn't really pick up steam until Cate Blanchett enters the picture. Her performance is solid, but it is also at this moment when the narrative becomes a whole lot more interesting. The all-star cast which also includes Willem Dafoe and Mary Steenburgen, each provide their own eye-opening moments, and together with above-average special effects and camera work, help clean up several scenes that drag or the ones that feel like puzzle pieces that weren't meant to go together. Artistically stimulating, there just isn't enough to keep the film from dragging at times. Running about two and a half hours, the film also has a couple cringe-worthy moments. Still, the convoluted plot and the fine acting carry it satisfactorily enough to garner some praise.
For audiences who don't mind a little slice of weird on their cinema plate, Nightmare Alley delivers a healthy dose of intrigue, suspense, and film noir charm, and it does so while provoking the spectator to analyze how certain puzzle pieces come together. While it isn't everyone's dream film, it is one viewers will remember once they awake from the hypnotizing story.