Guillermo del Toro’s 2021 adaptation of William Lindsay Gresham’s 1946 novel Nightmare Alley, which Quentin Tarantino has named one of his all-time favorite stories, is now available to stream on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ in select regions starting October 1. This psychological thriller, set in the late 1930s, centers on a drifter who exploits the dark underbelly of a traveling carnival.
Plot and Key Characters Drive the Dark Carnival Story
The story follows Stanton “Stan” Carlisle, portrayed by Bradley Cooper, a transient who becomes involved with a carnival’s performers, including Zeena the Seer (Toni Collette) and Bruno (Ron Perlman). Under their guidance, Stan develops a fraudulent psychic act, ascending into the world of con artistry. His rise culminates in a dangerous partnership with Dr. Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett), a psychiatrist whose intentions are as complex as her role as both ally and adversary. The film also features Rooney Mara as Molly, Richard Jenkins as affluent businessman Ezra Grindle, Willem Dafoe as carnival barker Clem Hoatley, and Mary Steenburgen as Mrs. Kimball, rounding out a compelling ensemble.
Critical Reception and Box Office Performance
Despite earning just $39.6 million at the box office against a $60 million budget, Nightmare Alley won favor with critics and audiences alike, earning an 80% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film garnered four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, highlighting its artistic merit. Critics like Collider praised it as a faithful noir infused with Guillermo del Toro’s signature style, where human ambition and deception take center stage over supernatural horror. While some noted the film’s polish felt at odds with its dark themes, the craftsmanship and performances stood out as exceptional.
A Gripping Exploration of Human Darkness Without Supernatural Elements
“In most of Guillermo del Toro movies, the ‘monsters’ are misunderstood and it’s the humans who are the real beasts. But if you take away the supernatural, what do you have left? Del Toro answers that question with his new adaptation of William Lindsay Gresham’s dark, twisted novel Nightmare Alley. Working in a similar thematic vein despite the lack of supernatural creatures, the film allows del Toro to fully explore monstrous humanity through the character study of his doomed protagonist. The film is immaculately crafted, almost to its own detriment as it never seems as filthy as the souls of its grifters. Nevertheless, if you love del Toro’s previous work and the noir genre, you’ll be instantly enraptured by Nightmare Alley.”
– Collider
Anticipating Audience Reception This Halloween Season
As Nightmare Alley becomes accessible to a wider streaming audience this October, it is poised to find renewed interest among fans of psychological thrillers and noir films. Its mix of intense character drama and sharp critique of human nature aligns with its reputation as a Quentin Tarantino favorite remake. Viewers intrigued by the themes of ambition, deception, and moral decay will appreciate del Toro’s deeply reflective approach. The film’s arrival on Hulu also offers an opportunity for deeper appreciation of performances by key cast members such as Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, and Toni Collette, whose portrayals bring the story’s complex characters vividly to life.
