Directed by Guillermo del Toro, Nightmare Alley exposes the truth about carnie and psychiatrists, the charlatans that they are with a kaleidoscope of a tale.

“I was very interested in a story about destiny and humanity. Stanton Carlisle is a man who is given all the elements to change his life. He has people who believe in him, who love him and trust him. Yet his drive and his own hubris are so strong that they turn him away from that.” —Guillermo del Toro

Charismatic but down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle endears himself to clairvoyant Zeena, played by Toni Collette and her has-been mentalist husband Pete, played by David Strathairn. Stanton joins a traveling carnival, where he crafts a golden ticket to success, using this newly gained knowledge to grift the wealthy elite of 1940s New York Society.

With the virtuous Molly, played by Rooney Mara, loyally by his side, Stanton plots to con a dangerous tycoon, played by Richard Jenkins, with the aid of a mysterious psychiatrist, played by Cate Blanchett, who might be his most formidable opponent yet.

Based on the 1947 novel with the same title by William Lindsay Gresham, the monsters in this movie are people who trick others into horrific circumstances. Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara and Willem Dafoe star in this noir.

The story follows Cooper’s character Stanton Carlisle, a nobody, working in a small-time carnival that is not as innocent as America thinks with touches of del Toro.

“In a way, Molly is the conscience of Nightmare Alley. She tries very hard to keep Stan on the right track,” says Dale. “Guillermo has always been a believer in what an actor can convey with their eyes, and Rooney has that ability. She brings to Molly an innocence but also an increasing strength as she grows. She comes to stand in moral contrast to Stanton as loyal, spiritual, and humane.”

Though she has the thick skin and resilience of a young woman raised in the carnival world, Molly wins Stanton’s attention early on with her warmth and hopefulness. She believes he has greatness in him, enough to take a chance on him and leave behind the community she loves.

“Rooney has the most amazing tracking instinct for her character. She knew exactly where the character was, so she’s always real,” commented del Toro.

“We also went after every detail — wanted Molly to be symbolized by a deer, so she wears a little deer pendant throughout,” added del Toro. “We then have a deer in the room of the hotel, on the headboard of the bed. We referenced everything back to her.”

Stanton partners with psychiatrist Dr. Lilith Ritter, played by Blanchett, after Ritter discovers his underhanded schemes to target millionaires.

Blanchett notes that the fascination between Dr. Ritter and Stanton is not only sexual, but the chemical attraction is palpable. There is also a sense of recognition. “She’s a lone wolf, and that’s where she and Stan connect. They are both running from the past, and they can see a similarity between them.”

She continues, “Lilith is also someone who’s interested in both the practical and mystical sides of psychoanalysis, so that’s part of why Stanton intrigues her. She’s trying to work out what makes him tick, as she’s a bit of a shaman herself. Their entire relationship takes place in her office, so we thought about that set as being not just a physical space but a psychological space.”

Passion and vengeance are among the unpredictable emotions that arise in that space. “In a way, Lilith’s office is where Stan is finally vulnerable. There are a lot of destructive urges in Stan that have a parallel in Lilith. It’s a manipulative, deceitful dance between them… and these things rarely end well.”

The carnival’s manager, Clem, played by Willem Dafoe, is an old-school carny with an intimidating gruffness but willingness to give anyone their one chance. “I love this world. It’s so theatrical, full of color and drama, and perfect material for a film,” Dafoe says.

Clem is simultaneously hard-nosed and unwaveringly loyal to his own. “He has a bit of a conman in him, too, and he wants to make a dollar. But there’s a sweet side to Clem as well, where he feels responsible for his carnival family,” Dafoe says.

When Clem first meets Stanton, he identifies with him as someone who seems lost yet full of potential. “I think he sees that Stanton is a little off, he’s a little on the make, but Clem also recognizes himself in Stanton,” notes Dafoe. “A guy like Clem has been around. He’s probably done time, he’s had to scrape to get by, and he knows what that’s like, so he’s willing to help Stanton.”

Clem gives Stanton refuge, but he also demonstrates the depths of his own darkness in his harsh treatment of the carnival’s geek. “It’s pretty rough stuff, the way he creates the carnival geek,” says Dafoe.