Nightmare Alley is a 2021 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Guillermo del Toro from a screenplay by del Toro and Kim Morgan. The film features an ensemble cast starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman, Mary Steenburgen, and David Strathairn.
It is based on the 1946 novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham and the second film to be adapted by Gresham's novel, following the 1947 film.
Plot[]
In 1940s New York, down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) endears himself to a clairvoyant and her mentalist husband at a traveling carnival. Using newly acquired knowledge, Carlisle crafts a golden ticket to success by swindling the elite and wealthy. Hoping for a big score, he soon hatches a scheme to con a dangerous tycoon with help from a mysterious psychiatrist who might be his most formidable opponent yet.
Cast[]
- Bradley Cooper as Stanton "Stan" Carlisle
- Cate Blanchett as Lilith Ritter
- Toni Collette as Zeena Krumbein
- Willem Dafoe as Clement Hoately
- Richard Jenkins as Ezra Grindle
- Rooney Mara as Mary Elizabeth "Molly" Cahill
- Ron Perlman as Bruno
- Mary Steenburgen as Miss Kimball
- David Strathairn as Pete Krumbein
- Holt McCallany as Anderson
- Clifton Collins Jr. as Funhouse Jack
- Tim Blake Nelson as Carny Boss
- Jim Beaver as Sheriff Jedediah Judd
- Mark Povinelli as Major Mosquito
- Romina Power
- Paul Anderson as Geek #1
- David Hewlett as Dr. Elrood
- Lara Jean Chorostecki as Louise Hoately
- Stephen McHattie as Hobo #1
- Dian Bachar as Fee Fee the Birdgirl