Guillermo Del Toro’s latest movie dropped its first trailer and it appears he has traded in the creatures we’ve loved in Pan’s Labyrinth and Hellboy for carnival folks in Nightmare Alley. Fans of del Toro know what a departure this is for the director.
Though the movie is based on a novel penned by William Lindsay Gresham, it is del Toro who wrote this film version. Nightmare Alley also has more stars than a carnival has rigged games.
Bradley Cooper is Stanton Carlisle, a less than honest fella, who cons folks into believing he can read their minds. He comes across Cate Blanchette’s Dr. Lilith Ritter, a shrink who appears more devious than the leading man. Also in the film are Willem Dafoe as the carnivals ringleader, Rooney Mara, Richard Jenkins, Toni Collette, Ron Perlman, and Latine actor Clifton Collins Jr.
If it feels like we’ve been waiting forever for this project, you are right. It was first announced in 2017. Delays, life, and COVID-19 pushed the film again and again until it settled on a December 17, 2021 opening. It’s not as though the Oscar-winning director hasn’t been busy. Del Toro has his hands in Pinocchio and numerous television projects like Cabinet of Curiosities for Netflix.
Nightmare Alley is rated R and is out just in time for the holidays!