CREDIT: OPEN ROAD FILMS
He's back in tip-top shape since his Donnie Darko days, and according to this reviewer, Nightcrawler is worth watching.

Inhuman monster. Hero. Teleporter. Blue German. Nightcrawler is the story of a man who is one of these things. Following Lou Bloom, a crime videographer played by an underweight Jake Gyllenhaal, the story is one of ambition, power, greed and how easily people can change when these are used against them.

While obviously reveling in the gore and graphic nature of the crimes being filmed, the murders and horrible accidents manage to be considerably less disturbing than the character Lou. This is a movie that could use a trigger warning for showing subtle, clever and frighteningly casual abuse. As the plot moves forward, the darkness piles on until one feels like The Man with the Screaming Brain, unable to think beyond the words, “No, no, no, no,” and, “AAHHH.”

However, this discomfort is part of what makes Nightcrawler such a compelling movie.

Gyllenhaal is in his best form since Donnie Darko, believable and consistent at every moment. There is no hesitation in this character and all those around him are drawn into his madness. Rene Russo, as Nina Romina, does an excellent job showing the transition from discomfort to reluctant acceptance to complete dependence, seeming to be going through the stages of Stockholm syndrome as the movie progresses. In the role of faithful sidekick Rick (played by Riz Ahmed) shows the truth of the saying that evil succeeds when good men do nothing. Every character brings a unique level of desperation, exploited by Lou with care and penetrating intelligence.

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the movie is the lack of a real need for a suspension of disbelief. People like this exist, demonstrated by the story of Wallace Souza, a Brazilian crime show host accused of setting up murders to boost ratings.

While that particular gentleman died of an unrelated medical condition before the accusations could be proven, it’s easy to imagine him as being the inspiration for Gyllenhaal’s character. It’s difficult to get past the feeling that any person, from the nice guy who sold you stolen goods to the overeager co-worker, could be a high-functioning sociopath trying to figure out the best way to frame your mutilated corpse.

Speaking of framing, the videography was very well done, drawing the audience in to the scene. Although the movie could easily have been done in the found-footage style that has been so popular lately, there was a distinct choice made by the director, Dan Gilroy, to avoid the shaky-cam trope. It was a choice that paid off, removing any distraction from the intensity of the actors’ performances.

If you’re looking for a film to make your skin crawl and the bile build in the back of your throat, Nightcrawler is an excellent choice. From disturbing images to an excessive creep factor, this is a movie that can satisfy even the most hardened twisted movie fan. Nightcrawler is the new measuring stick for sociopaths, and there is no way to feel better about yourself than to hate a monster like Lou Bloom.