Nightmare Alley
CrimeDramaThriller
16+R
2021·2h 31m·Guillermo del Toro·Searchlight Pictures·● Script read & verified
A psychological drama about Stan, an ambitious young man working at a traveling carnival who becomes fascinated by the mentalist acts and geek shows. The...
Best watched together — Heavy themes of addiction, exploitation, and moral degradation require discussion and context
Heads Up for Parents
The film's treatment of human exploitation in carnival geek shows is deeply disturbing and may be more intense than expected
What's In It
Violence
Very Mild▸
Language
Very Mild▸
Scary
Mild▸
Romance
Very Mild▸
Substances
Extreme▸
Stimulation
Mild▸
Cultural & Values Guide
Faith & Religion
●Christian themes
The film features a traveling evangelical preacher as a major character, with extended scenes of religious revival meetings and Stan's manipulation of Christian faith for personal gain. The corruption and exploitation of religious belief is a central plot element throughout the story.
Community Notes
- Disability advocates have raised concerns about the dehumanizing portrayal of the geek performer
Family Takeaways
What it gets right
- ✓Shows the destructive nature of addiction on relationships
- ✓Explores how unchecked ambition can lead to moral compromise
Cast:Bradley CooperCate BlanchettToni ColletteWillem DafoeRichard Jenkins