Studios spend a lot of money to promote their films. They also release countless teasers and promos to entice us into theaters. But for certain movies, all it takes is one single sentence to have us lined up at the box office on opening night. It’s not even a long sentence. But it carries so much promise it’s all we need to hear. If you say, “directed by Guillermo del Toro,” we’re all in. That doesn’t mean we don’t still appreciate seeing a great trailer for his films though. And that’s exactly what we got with the fantastic new trailer for his stylish, star-packed thriller Nightmare Alley.
We might not have needed this Nightmare Alley trailer to get hyped for the film. But we’re sure glad we got it. You don’t need to be clairvoyant to know this could not be more up our own movie-loving alley. Though with this cast and this director it’s more of a dream alley than a nightmare one.
The film’s official synopsis from Searchlight Pictures also provides more insight into the story:
“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.”
Del Toro co-wrote the script with Kim Morgan. It also stars Willem Dafoe, Ron Perlman, and Mary Steenburgen. Just in case you didn’t already think this cast was totally stacked. But even if it were filled with nobodies we’d be all in. We just had to know who directed it.
Nightmare Alley comes to theaters on December 17.
