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Rating: Q=5, P=4 / Average OJ
Scale 1=3, Scale 2=2, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2
1930's-40's, Thriller, Psychological, Carnival
Guillermo del Toro has made an interesting adaptation of Nightmare Alley, perhaps staying closer to the story of the novel, but somehow the film just didn't grab me like the classic film noir version from 1947. Perhaps it was because the slow burn was less convincing and the horror aspects pulled me away from the psychological madness. I wasn't as captivated by the setting nor by the acting. Nightmare Alley of 1947 felt succinct and complete--fully formed from start to finish, with subtle moments throughout signaling the mentalist's downfall. This version just feels bumpy (the story felt a little rushed and disjointed) and, at times, overdoing it. But the artistry was superb! And I did like the ending just a little better--so fitting.
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