Poster · fair useMovies › Nightmare Alley
Nightmare Alley 2021
Neo-noirPsychological thriller
Nightmare Alley is an American neo-noir psychological thriller film from 2021. It is based on the 1946 novel by William Lindsay Gresham and adapted for the screen by Guillermo del Toro, who also directed it. The film was co-produced by Searchlight Pictures and Double Dare You Productions. Bradley Cooper plays a charismatic carnival worker with a hidden history, pursuing ambitious goals through dangerous choices. Supporting cast includes Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman, Mary Steenburgen, and David Strathairn. This marks the second cinematic version of Gresham’s novel, after the 1947 film.
Guillermo del Toro announced the project in 2017, working with J. Miles Dale and Cooper as producers. Cinematographer Dan Laustsen collaborated with del Toro, while Nathan Johnson took over musical composition from Alexandre Desplat. Principal filming began in January 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, but halted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production resumed in September 2020 and wrapped up in December.
The film had its premiere at Alice Tully Hall in New York City on December 1, 2021, followed by a U.S. theatrical release on December 17 by Searchlight Pictures. Critics responded positively, and it earned $39.6million globally against a $60million budget. It received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. A black-and-white version titled Vision in Darkness and Light debuted in select cities starting January 14, 2022. The film runs 150 minutes and is in English.
Cast
- Bradley CooperStanton "Stan" Carlisle
- Cate BlanchettDr. Lilith Ritter
- Toni ColletteZeena the Seer
- Willem DafoeClem Hoatley
- Richard JenkinsEzra Grindle
- Rooney MaraMolly Cahill
- Ron PerlmanBruno
- Mary SteenburgenMrs. Kimball
- David StrathairnPete
- Holt McCallanyAnderson
- Peter MacNeillJudge Kimball
- Mark Povinellithe Major
- Jim BeaverSheriff Jedediah Judd
- David HewlettDr. Elrood
- Tim Blake NelsonCarny Boss
- Clifton Collins Jr.Funhouse Jack
- Paul AndersonGeek #1
- Lara Jean ChorosteckiLouise Hoatley
Crew
- Director
- Guillermo del Toro
- Screenplay
- Guillermo del Toro, Kim Morgan
- Producer
- J. Miles Dale, Guillermo del Toro, Bradley Cooper
- Cinematography
- Dan Laustsen
- Editing
- Cam McLauchlin
- Music
- Nathan Johnson
Details
- Production
- Double Dare You Productions
- Distributor
- Searchlight Pictures
- Budget
- $60 million
- Box office
- $39.6 million
