Night of the Hunter

Rating: 9/10 (6 November 2014)

This film is highly recommended. (☆☆☆ ½)
A nightcrawler is an ugly and slimy animal that surfaces at night and feeds upon live and dead organisms, a more than apt title for Dan Gilroy's riveting new film by the same name. In Nightcrawler, the creepy crawly creature in this case is one, Mr. Louis Bloom.
The plot follows Lou (Jake Gyllenhaal), an amoral petty thief turned instant paparazzi. After viewing a grisly accident that becomes his inspiration for a new career choice, Lou follows a blood trail of dead bodies and injured victims by recording their crime scenes and hawking his footage to the highest bidder. He finds a willing partner in Nina (Rene Russo), an ambitious television producer looking for big ratings.
Nightcrawler's central premise does seem a tad far-fetched by today's standards. While television has become somewhat lax due to cable and streaming services and the need for one-oneupmanship for that all-mighty ratings boost, the chance of actually seeing this bloody and gruesome coverage seems more the distant future than today. (Yes, one can see this type of journalism online, but regulations on television do limit that type of imagery. Perhaps it may be viewed on PCN (the Paddy Chayefsky Network), of which this film more than closely aligns.) Most recently, other films have taken to the subject of the news and its drive for sensationalism, as with Gone Girl, but Nightcrawler relishes in its own seediness.
The film aims squarely at its easy target by shows journalism at its most tawdry and the human condition as mere fodder for the most sordid of extremes. Director Gilroy, who also wrote the screenplay, captures the right rhythms and atmosphere of L.A. at night, largely due to the strong camera-work of Robert Elswit and the adroit editing of John Gilroy, the director's gifted brother. (It appears to be a family affair as Tony Gilroy, Dan's brother, is one of the producers too.)
Foremost is Gyllenhaal's portrayal of Louis. The actor physically sheds his previous screen persona as a sexy leading man with his subtle acting choices. He hints at Lou's crazed nature with fast-talking patter and twisted monologues as a persuasive tool, bugged-eyed glances and gaunt pallor to mask a wounded soul within, and a sudden snide smile to indicate a shrewd and cunning mind. These traits help to create an indelible character. The mercurial turns show the duality of a character who can be a sad and pathetic human being or a cold and calculating monster. His Lou Bloom is a memorable psychotic loner, part deranged inspirational speaker and part harbinger of bad things to come. This is Gyllenhaal's finest performance and one of this year's best.
Strong support is also provided by Rene Russo, channeling the guise of Faye Dunaway into her career-driven mad newswoman, Riz Ahmed as Lou's partner-in-crime, Bill Paxton as Lou's video rival, and Kevin Rahm as one of the few characters in the film with a conscience.
Nightcrawler builds to an explosive if somewhat predictable climax, but the film stays its course as a stinging indictment of the television news media. The film may be overlooked by many moviegoers and it might not win many awards this season due to its relentless disturbing view of American corruption and human squalor, but any serious moviegoer should see Nightcrawler for the sheer audacity of its subject matter, a powerful filmmaking debut of a talented director, and Gyllenhaal's break-out role. As they say in the trade: viewer discretion is advised. GRADE: B+
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