``Nightmare Alley'' Guillermo del Toro's goal as a noir that he wanted to shoot since he was young

Thoughts put into the beastman = Geek

The cast of "Nightmare Alley" is filled with talented actors, and while their unique qualities are utilized, you can also feel that new charms are brought out. Everyone is overwhelmed by the seductive and provocative performance of Cate Blanchett as Lilith, Bradley Cooper as the main character Stan vividly embodies the ambition to control the world of darkness, and the sadness of being confronted with reality at the end. Guillermo said of his direction, "I was conscious of shooting a 1930s silver screen star," and Bradley, who is also a talented director, responded brilliantly to his intention. Bradley as Stan is the best example of Guillermo's attention to detail and the chemistry between the actors who respond to it.

“Nightmare Alley” © 2022 20th Century Studios.

And burned into the mind throughout the film is the image of a baby preserved in formaldehyde, kept by a carnival troupe. The third eye on the baby's forehead seems to be observing Stan and the others' increasingly erratic behavior. When I visited Guillermo's studio for " Pacific Rim " (2013), he explained the design of the KAIJU (monster) characters with a childlike sparkle in his eyes, and it seems that he focused his overflowing love of the "bizarre" on the design of this baby as well.

The word "geek" used to describe the beastman also means "nerd." At the end of "Nightmare Alley," Guillermo's thoughts on the word geek are bursting forth, and his fans may be moved to tears.

Text: Hiroaki Saito

Became freelance in 1997, contributing movie reviews and interview articles to various media such as movie magazines, theater pamphlets, and movie sites. The column is constantly updated on Yahoo! News.

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"Nightmare Alley"

4K UHD now on sale

Currently being distributed digitally (purchase/rent)

© 2022 20th Century Studios.

Released by: Walt Disney Japan