Review: Nightcrawler

Nightcrawler ranks high in top rated thriller movies, so it seemed like a good pick for a mother-daughter movie night... Well, let's just say I've lost the privilege of choosing the films we watch for a while. I will always love Gyllenhaal, but I did not love this film (neither did mum!).

To it's credit, Nightcrawler hosts a very impressive performance by Gyllenhaal, and a lot of potential for a truly great film. This potential cannot be said to reach that potential. Unfortunately, the film looks like the product of the mutilation of an incredible story; where both the beginign and end have been cut and discarded, There is no pay off, no resolution, and no substantiality. The film's core is never reached, and the film's climax cues the credits, guaranteed to leave viewers unsettled.

The soundtrack isn't what I'd consider suited to the film's tone... I think it should have had an intense electronic soundtrack to go with its neon theme (cue 'A Real Hero' from Drive). Also, the cinematography was a little bit puzzling and disrupted the film's continuum yet not a display of discontinuous editing. The film's green and red motif throughout the film was effective and complimented the plot, but the entire film is intercepted by a bunch of banal shots of the LA landscape which break this visual tone.

Overall, I think the film was missing the thread to interweave sections of what could have been something brilliant.