Close Sidebar close
The Cinematropolis
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Write For Us
    • Contact
  • Essays
    • Essays
    • Lists
    • Film Festivals
    • Reel Insights with Laron Chapman
  • The Cinematic Schematic
  • Interviews
  • Planet Thunder
  • Store

Subscribe & Follow

About

  • Write For Us
  • About Us
  • The Odyssey

    ‘The Odyssey’ Review: Is Christopher Nolan’s Epic Worth the Hype?

    July 22, 2026
  • The Odyssey

    ‘The Odyssey’ Is an Epic Cinematic Masterclass

    July 15, 2026
  • Summer 2026 Horror

    ‘Evil Dead Burn’ Joins Triumphantly Traumatizing 2026 Summer Horror Lineup

    July 15, 2026
  • Evil Dead Burn

    ‘Evil Dead Burn’ Is a Maniacally Violent Movie

    July 9, 2026
  • Supergirl

    ‘Supergirl’ Doesn’t Fly High Enough to Sell Audiences on the DCU

    July 1, 2026
  • Supergirl

    ‘Supergirl’ Delivers a “Good Enough” DCU Follow-Up

    June 25, 2026
  • Disclosure Day

    ‘Disclosure Day’ Brings Spielberg’s Lifelong Alien Obsession Full Circle

    June 24, 2026
  • deadCenter Film Festival 2026 Recap

    The Cinematropolis deadCenter 2026 Recap

    June 19, 2026
  • Toy Story 5

    ‘Toy Story 5’ Plays the Emotional Hits in a Remixed Tune

    June 18, 2026
  • Mallory isn't amused with Sam in Mallory's Ghost, which screened at the 2026 deadCenter Film Festival.

    ‘Mallory’s Ghost’ Is an Imaginative and Accessible Meditation on Creativity — dCFF26

    June 13, 2026

Brought to you by Planet Thunder Productions

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Write For Us
    • Contact
  • Essays
    • Essays
    • Lists
    • Film Festivals
    • Reel Insights with Laron Chapman
  • The Cinematic Schematic
  • Interviews
  • Planet Thunder
  • Store
The Cinematropolis
The Cinematropolis
    Featured Now Playing The Cinematic Schematic

    Nightmare Alley – The Cinematic Schematic Review

    December 16, 2021
    Nightmare Alley
    https://media.blubrry.com/thecinematicschematic/www.thecinematropolis.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Nightmare-Alley_Final.mp3

    Podcast: Play in new window | Download

    Subscribe: TuneIn | RSS

    Step right up to The Cinematic Schematic! Is it more cinema or unruly beast? In this week’s episode, we’re rejoined by The Cinematropolis contributor, Daniel Bokemper, to do a spoiler-free review of Guillermo Del Toro’s newest film, Nightmare Alley, before diving into an in-depth spoiler discussion.

    In his first film as a director since winning the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director with The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro returns to a familiar and more comfortable genre, noir. The trailers for Del Toro’s newest film, Nightmare Alley, may rely heavily on the backdrop of a traveling carnival, but don’t be deceived, this film goes far beyond the boundaries of the Clement “Clem” Hoately (Willem Dafoe) show.

    The Shape of Water Check out our full review essay of The Shape of Water

    Based on the 1946 novel of the same name, Nightmare Alley follows Stanton “Stan” Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) who begins the film on the run from a dark and mysterious past. After joining a traveling carnival and learning the trade of mentalism from fellow troupe members Zeena Krumbein(Toni Collette) and her husband Pete(David Strathairn), Carlisle departs on a journey into a more complicated venture with his partner Molly(Rooney Mara).

    Does Del Toro continue his streak as one of the most skilled and beloved genre directors working in Hollywood or is he beginning to get a little too settled into the familiar genres to deliver another instant classic?

    Tune in to the full review conversation for our verdict!

    Nightmare Alley opens in theaters nationwide tonight.


    Special Guest

    Daniel Bokemper

    Contributor at The Cinematropolis

    Follow Daniel on Twitter @daniel_bokemper


    About Nightmare Alley

    According to IMDB, Nightmare Alley is described as:

    An ambitious carny with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is even more dangerous than he is.

    Follow The Cinematic Schematic Podcast

    Hear all of this and more of our past and future episodes by subscribing to The Cinematic Schematic on your preferred podcast app and leaving us a rating on Apple Podcasts!

    Follow The Cinematic Schematic on Spotify

    Like The Cinematropolis on Facebook

    Follow The Cinematropolis on Twitter @thecinematrop

    Bradley CooperGuillermo Del ToroNightmare AlleyThe Cinematic SchematicWillem dafoe
    Caleb Masters
    Caleb Masters is a film critic, podcast host, and producer with more than fourteen years of experience in media and film criticism, fueled by a lifelong love of pop culture and a passion for media production. As editor-in-chief of The Cinematropolis, he oversees the site’s editorial direction while hosting and producing the podcast The Cinematic Schematic, where he reviews new releases, interviews filmmakers, and explores other prominent voices in entertainment alongside co-host Laron Chapman. He previously served as president of the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) and currently lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife and three dogs. Follow him on Letterboxd or Instagram @CMastersTalk
    • The Matrix Trilogy Retrospective – The Cinematic Schematic

    • Del Toro’s Nightmare Alley Foretells the Bane of Hope

    You Might Also Like

    deadCenter 2018 Recap

    The Cinematropolis deadCenter 2018 Recap

    June 14, 2018

    Get Out: A Thrilling Warning Against White Liberalism Body Snatching

    February 27, 2018
    Screenshot from The Matrix: Resurrections featuring Keanu Reeves as Neo.

    Lana Wachowski’s The Matrix Resurrections Confronts the Danger of Myth

    December 29, 2021

    No Comments

Brought to You By

Planet Thunder Productions

2026 - All Rights Reserved.