(Image Source: Disney Studios)
"Pacific Rim" director Guillermo del Toro is set to have a busy second half of the year. Not only will he release his new adaptation of "Frankenstein" (which he wrote and directed), but a new version of another one of his previous remakes is also on the way.
Last December, del Toro teased the release of a black-and-white extended cut for his 2021 neo-noir thriller "Nightmare Alley," which he directed and co-wrote. The film, a remake of the 1947 classic, featured a star-studded cast including Cate Blanchett and Bradley Cooper. Today, acclaimed home video distributor The Criterion Collection confirmed the news, announcing that the black-and-white extended version of "Nightmare Alley" will indeed be part of their October lineup.
(Image Source: The Criterion Collection)
A non-extended black-and-white cut of "Nightmare Alley" previously had a limited theatrical run in select North American markets three years ago, released under the title "Nightmare Alley: Vision in Darkness and Light." This subtitle will be retained for Criterion's upcoming physical Blu-ray release, which will also feature expanded narrative content in its black-and-white version.
"Nightmare Alley: Vision in Darkness and Light" is slated for an October 28 release. The Criterion edition will include the 4K theatrical cut, a 4K Blu-ray director's extended black-and-white version, and a newly recorded commentary track by del Toro for the extended cut. Fans interested in the film may want to consider picking it up. The original production budget for "Nightmare Alley" was $60 million, yet it grossed less than $40 million worldwide, and audience buzz was notably subdued. This new extended version might offer the film a chance to connect with a wider audience.