Review of Nightcrawler (2014) by Foxgrove — 06 Nov 2014

Suspension of disbelief should be an advisory caution when viewing 'Nightcrawler'. However, as long as one can over look the story's obvious absurdities it can be enjoyed as a compelling and superior thriller.

Jake Gyllenhaal is superb as the not unlikeable nutter who opportunistically decides to make a living by filming the misfortunes, injuries and death throes of others, which he then sells to TV. His total disdain for people and human life sets no bounds and this, in turn, leads him to TV news producer Renee Russo. She is fantastic as an ageing last chance producer who becomes entangled in his web. The scenes between them both literally crackle with there own kind of tension and are excellently written.

The movie, mainly shot at night, makes excellent use of its L. A. locations, and a couple of set pieces (a home invasion and a restaurant shoot out) are outstanding and demonstrate first rate examples of how to create sustained tension. Flying under the radar, this is a film not to be missed.