Dark ambitions...

Rating: 9/10 (28 October 2014)

Dan Gilroy's provocative directorial debut is a psychological thriller set in an unfamiliarly gritty Los Angeles. The film follows Lou Bloom (an emaciated Jake Gyllenhaal), an anti-social and driven man desperate for work who stumbles upon the world of "nightcrawlers" – freelance camera crews who film footages of car accidents, fires, shootings and all sorts of mayhem to sell to the local TV news. The lives of everyone around Lou is put in danger as he falls deeper into this rabbit hole of madness and immorality.
What is captivating about Nightcrawler is that it does not judge its characters. The film tells a story that delves into the seedy and unnerving realms of the human psyche and it us up to the audience to ponder and reflect on what unfolds before them. Gilroy skilfully balances the dark comedy, thriller and satirical elements in the film, giving us a thematically-rich and suspenseful dive into the abyss that will surely stay with you long after the credits have rolled.
There is an abundance of unsympathetic characters in the film, from Rene Russo's twisted TV producer to the fellow nightcrawlers Lou crosses paths with who will stop at nothing to exploit tragedy in hopes of making ends meet and surviving in a cutthroat society. The moral compass of the film is Riz Ahmed's Rick, a young man Lou recruits as an assistant who is unwillingly made an accomplice as a determined Lou commits one illegal act after another, trying to make his way up the top of the game. It's not just about being the first to reach the scene of the crime, it's about creating a story so shocking it would be impossible for people to turn away from.
Jake Gyllenhaal gives a mesmerizing and disturbing career-best performance as one of the most memorable characters of the year. He is physically and mentally committed in embodying an eccentric and fascinating human unlike anything we've seen before. From his distinct mannerisms to his impeccable monologue deliveries, Gyllenhaal makes sure the audiences can't look away no matter how uncomfortable the situations become (a particular scene involving a broken mirror will surely be an image that will be seared into your memory). What's even more unsettling is that we see bits and pieces of ourselves in Lou. From the first frame, the film is given an eerie and ominous atmosphere, thanks to cinematographer Robert Elswit (Paul Thomas Anderson's frequent collaborator) and James Newton Howard's minimalistic but effective score.
Part satirical view of media sensationalism, part success story, Nightcrawler is one of those rare films that is not only superbly entertaining, but sophisticated and thought-provoking in equal measure.