When charismatic but down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) endears himself to clairvoyant Zeena (Toni Collette) and her has-been mentalist husband Pete (David Strathairn) at a traveling carnival, he crafts a golden ticket to success, using this newly acquired knowledge to grift the wealthy elite of 1940s New York society. With the virtuous Molly (Rooney Mara) loyally by his side, Stanton plots to con a dangerous tycoon (Richard Jenkins) with the aid of a mysterious psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett) who might be his most formidable opponent yet.
For in-depth thoughts on Nightmare Alley (2021), please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Nightmare Alley (2021) debuts on Blu-Ray with an AVC encoded 1080p presentation in 1.85:1 that does a phenomenal job of bringing this world to life. Shot on digital and finished in 4K, the visual brilliance of the film is immediately clear and stunning. From beginning to end, the disc delivers stable, dazzling colors within the production design and costumes which really makes an impression. Skin tones appear natural with healthy doses of crisp detail apparent on faces such as pores and within the makeup. The range of the color spectrum is nuanced within the world del Toro has chosen to construct with moments of vibrant colors within a more dour palette. Elements in the film taking place in the cover of shadows are more vivid and stable. The black levels are especially strong in this presentation, staying deep and inky with great detail. The highlights in the film are finely delineated with whites pure and balanced with no instances of blooming to be found. This Blu-Ray release pushes the format to its limits in terms of technical excellence. There is a 4K UHD Blu-Ray also available that was not offered to me for review.
Audio Quality
This disc comes equipped with a magnificent DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that presents this world in a formidable way. From the opening moments, the soundscape is set to deliver an immersive experience suitable for the dark nightmare that it is. Sounds are appropriately rendered with precise directionality from the more frenzied scenes to interpersonal moments of dialogue. Ambient details are plentiful and quite satisfying in the surround channels. The sterling score envelopes the room with an unease befitting the narrative. Dialogue is presented perfectly clear without ever being overwhelmed by any of the competing sonic elements. The low end is engaged in a really solid way that you will feel in your bones. The mix offers up a very pleasing experience, but those who want the absolute best audio experience will want to check out the 4K UHD Blu-Ray for a Dolby Atmos presentation.
Special Features
- Del Toro’s Neo Noir: An 11-minute piece in which writer-director Guillermo del Toro and the cast decipher elements of the narrative, delve into the stylistic flourishes of his approach, pay respect to classic cinema and more.
- Beneath The Tarp: A nearly nine-minute look at the Academy Award-nominated production design from the failing carnival to the high-soceity environments and how they fit into del Toro’s vision of this story.
- What Exists In The Fringe: A five-minute look at the Academy Award-nominated costumes by Luis Sequeira and how they reveal hidden meaning within the story.
Final Thoughts
Nightmare Alley (2021) is a bit of a strange beast as Guillermo del Toro used his Oscar-winning clout to fund a nightmarish noir that does not have broad appeal, but is a fascinating journey for those who get on its wavelength. Bradley Cooper effortlessly inhabits a mostly irredeemable figure, although it is Cate Blanchett who shows up and steals the movie away from him. Even if you cannot get into the unsettling bleakness of the narrative, the technical achievements of the crafts are impossible not to appreciate. Guillermo del Toro is a masterful filmmaker, and his bold swings are appreciated in the modern cinematic landscape. Disney Home Entertainment has given this film a Blu-Ray release featuring a dazzling A/V presentation and a few decent special features. While it would have been nice to get the black-and-white version of the film included in this release, the film is worthy of adding to your collection. If you do, you may want to go for the 4K UHD option if you are capable. Recommended
Nightmare Alley (2021) is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Disney Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
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Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.