They’ve already made one of the best films of the decade. This could be superb
While it’s somewhat foolish to hail any ‘relatively recent’ release as a modern classic, it’s clear that Dan Gilroy’s 2014 thriller/social satire Nightcrawler was eerily prophetic in its attitude towards journalism.
In the film, Jake Gyllenhaal plays Louis Bloom, a man who records violent events as they occur on the streets of Los Angeles. Filming car crashes, murders, acts of violence and other repulsive acts is what he lives for.
Why is his macabre and twisted work accepted? Well, he can sell the footage to the local television news stations and make a small fortune.
This being said, what’s more repulsive – a parasite that feeds off the misery of other people or the environment that gives this man a living? With a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 76% on the more reliable Metacritic, Nightcrawler is definitely a modern classic.
The film earned Gilroy an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay but Gyllenhaal’s performance really deserved to be acknowledged too. The star of Donnie Darko and Prisoners was so slimy, creepy and repulsive in that role. In fact, most film fans probably felt like they needed a shower and a steel brillo pad just to wash off that character from their skin.
On that note, we’re delighted to see that Gilroy and Gyllenhaal will be reunited with their Nightcrawler co-star Rene Russo on Netflix’s next big-budget original film.
Variety have reported that the brilliant Toni Collette will also feature in the film alongside John Malkovich, British actress Zawe Ashton, Stranger Things star Natalia Dyer, Tony Award nominee Tom Sturridge and Tony Award winner Daveed Digg
The film has been described as a horror-thriller and the plot follows big-money artists and mega-collectors who pay a high price when art collides with commerce.
Hell, if it’s half as good as Nightcrawler, we’re in for a real treat when it’s released on Netflix.
