Every character in a classic noir is both hiding a dark secret and seeking forgiveness. This remains true in Guillermo Del Toro’s newest film NIGHTMARE ALLEY. An homage to the classic noir films of the 1940’s we follow drifter Stan (Bradley Cooper) who comes from nowhere, rises to fame, and risks it all on account of ambition and greed. We get one of Del Toro’s most visually sumptuous films that both excels under the strengths of the genre while wobbling under its faults. We know Stan has a secret, we know he is in danger of being blind to obvious trappings, but if you are a mark for this type of story the glorious embellishments by a master director and his team of talent make it all that much easier to take the bait.

At the opening of the film, Stan lands at a carnival run by Clem Hoately (Willem Dafoe). Offered a job and a place to sleep Stan becomes a fixture in the small carnival family. Stan becomes smitten with Molly (Rooney Mara), one of the performers to the chagrin of her old freind Bruno (Ron Perlman). Meanwhile Stan becomes close with  Zeena Crumbein (Toni Collette) and her boyfriend Pete (David Strathairn). The couple takes him under their wings and shares some of their tricks of the trade in mentalism and Tarot card reading. They warn, however, to never do a “Spookshow” or rather a seance. Soon enough Stan proves his worth to the carnival and becomes a talent of his own. Falling in love with Molly, the two of them decide to head to the big city to strike out on their own.

So far everything is on the up and up, but we as the viewer are still puzzled by the haunting flashbacks that Stan has in his dreams. No matter, as he becomes a wildly successful headline performer at a swanky nightclub with Molly as his assistant. Enter Lillith Ritter (Cate Blanchett). A Dr. of psychiatry, she sees two back-to-back performances of Stan’s act and immediately invites him to her office for a proposition. Slinking about her rooftop, art-deco wood-paneled office like a black panther she proposes to offer secrets about her clients to Stan if she can analyze him. The red flags are everywhere but again, Stan is blind to the femme fatale and her persuasive ways while we watch in disbelief.

This is rich, pulpy, pitch-black film noir done with exquisite craftsmanship and genuine love. Del Toro populates his expansive cast with profoundly talented actors at every level from bit part to lead role, enriching the story. Not the least of whom is Blanchett in an Oscar-worthy performance that left me breathless. Production designer Tamara Deverell and Art Director Brandt Gordon create a visual world of dazzling colors and textures to convey both romance and menace in the most beautiful of ways. Then of course there is the masterful Del Toro at the helm. His trademarks are all here, rich story, perfect visuals, strong performances, and the sudden bursts of brutally graphic violence.

If we are ranking, this falls somewhere between The Shape of Water and Crimson Peak for me with many of the other films on either side. I am a sucker for Noir with both its strengths and weaknesses. So me, I couldn’t get enough of NIGHTMARE ALLEY. But as far as narrative, you might need to ignore the bullet holes to have any real redemption.

8 out of 10