Disney+ Big Budget Thriller From Horror Master Is One Of The Best Remakes In Film History

In Nightmare Alley, Bradley Cooper stars as a flim-flam man named Stan who takes up work traveling with a carnival. While there, he begins to learn from the show’s clairvoyant act. Believing he can make it on his own, Stan makes a break for it along with Molly (Rooney Mara), a young woman who he’s met at the carnival and convinced to start a life with him.

Although the two folks running the clairvoyant act warned Stan to stay away from any fake readings that include the afterlife, Stan sees that there’s a lot of money to be made here. Though Molly tries to drag him away from it, Stan continues to fool people with his abilities to disastrous consequences. As Nightmare Alley pans out, audiences watch Stan make his own downfall that he doesn’t see coming.

Along with Blanchett, Mara, and Cooper, Nightmare Alley also features incredible performances from the likes of Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Ron Perlman, Mary Steenburgen, and more. Known for his work behind such beloved classics as Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, by the time Nightmare Alley rolled around, Guillermo del Toro had revealed himself as a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood, essentially having his pick of the litter when it came to who would join his film. 

On top of the top-tier acting, the costumes and set design in Nightmare Alley are reason enough to check out the film. Set in 1939, the suits, dresses, and other garments played into that traveling carnival lifestyle, flourishing with designs and vibrant colors. When it came to the set, the creative minds behind the design didn’t waste an ounce of inspiration, crafting an impressive carnival set and crafting the interior shots to glisten and gleam in the sun. 

And then there’s the award circuit. Debuting at the tail end of 2021, Nightmare Alley set itself up with an end-of-the-year drop, keeping it fresh on the minds of those in charge of big award shows like the Oscars. Along with its four Academy Award nods, del Toro’s thriller also earned three BAFTA and eight Critics’ Choice nominations. Following the film’s initial release, a black-and-white version also dropped in theaters one month later, giving audiences a chance to see the director’s original vision for the project.

Now, as it joins other titles available through Disney+ on Hulu, Nightmare Alley is the perfect psychological thriller packed with stunning visuals and breathtaking costumes to stream on your next at-home movie night.