Choose Your Own Nightmare Alley

Notes From the Back Row

Jenna and Veronica sit down to discuss both versions of Nightmare Alley – Edmund Goulding's noir take from 1947 starring Tyronne Power, Joan Blondell, Coleen Gray, and Helen Walker, and Guillermo Del Toro's recent release starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara and Toni Collette. Veronica loved the newest version and then felt middling on the '40s movie. Jenna loved the '40s version and felt middling about Del Toro's. But then again, she always feels that way about Del Toro movies and isn't completely sure why.

In this episode, Jenna and Veronica hash it out – both their differing opinions on these movies, the necessity of random violence in film, and an attempt to get to the bottom of Jenna's issue with Del Toro films. They also touch upon other directors who dazzle but can leave certain audiences flat.