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'Nightcrawler'—A Movie Review

'Nightcrawler' presents outstanding acting and a very well-written story.

By Marielle SabbagPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
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Hurry, I think we have our next news story!

Nightcrawler is a 2014 drama directed by Dan Gilroy. Desperate to find work, Louis discovers life as a nightcrawler, recording videos of horrible accidents and getting paid by news stations in doing so. It’s not long until Louis goes off the deep end to film the best news story.

Nightcrawler had me hooked from the moment the film started. The story talked about a career I was never aware of or thought about. Nightcrawler is a lesson about the freelance world and witnessing a man’s ruthless actions.

Jake Gyllenhaal carried the film! I was very impressed. Everything from his conniving, sociopathic and manipulative behavior was engrossing. I like how he does not have a backstory. Louis went to the extremes to get the best shot, even if it was against the law. Which raises the question. Whose side is he on?

I could tell that Gyllenhaal had a ball on this project. He really does all that erratic driving! And he even cut his hand during a shocking scene where he breaks his own bathroom mirror. Gyllenhaal lost a substantial amount of weight in order to appear predatorial and sinister. It works.

Louis crawled into everyone’s mind completely warping them. I enjoyed performances by Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed, Kevin Rahm, Michael Hyatt, and even the late Bill Paxton. Hyatt was outstanding, trying to break through Louis’ sinister demeanor to find answers and accuse him of his wrongdoings.

My most favorite interactions were between Louis and his assistant, Rick (Riz Ahmed). Rick is very aware of the unfair treatment. Sadly, he sticks around due to his situation. Ahmed was fantastic, especially when he is put out or trying to stop Louis from all his sinister antics to no avail. Never back down.

Nina (Rene Russo) is very aware of what Louis is up to and yet she starts to think like him in the end. The way Louis gets inside her mind, viciously speaking to Nina and even threatening her can be uncomfortable at times. Nina is trying to inwardly fight him but fails.

Filmmakers went to the extremes putting together all sorts of realistic news events from car accident injuries, home invasions, and brutal aftermath from fights. Be aware that there are graphic scenes depicting injuries and life-like scenarios that can be triggering. The home invasion scene is startling.

While Louis’ dark actions are not something to imitate, Nightcrawler is an essential learning lesson for freelancers. I am a freelance writer. Some days it is tough, while other days it is fun. Don’t ever wait around for work! You need to be aware of everything and never lose focus. Make deals in order to keep getting work. Knowing what you are getting into is a top priority that makes everything easier.

Louis researches everything about being a nightcrawler, getting the right video, and thinking up his own creative, albeit sinister, ways to capture scenes that are different from other cameramen. Freelancers should never hold back. Keep a portfolio of your work because it is very important.

Scenes of nightlife and the city were captured in beautiful cinematography. I loved the lighting in some scenes, especially in Louis’ apartment. To me, the darkness represented his mind and how cut off he is from the world. Most of the film takes place at night or in dark environments. Scenes with daylight are rare. And if there was, Louis’ dark nature completely dominated over the daylight sparking a big contrast.

Nightcrawler presents outstanding acting and a very well-written story. Scenes of brutal news stories depicting graphic injuries may be unsettling and triggering to audiences. Otherwise, Nightcrawler is a great film.

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About the Creator

Marielle Sabbag

Writing has been my passion since I was 11 years old. I love creating stories from fiction, poetry, fanfiction. I enjoy writing movie reviews. I would love to become a creative writing teacher and leave the world inspiring minds.

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