In this section of our Colossus Movie Guide for Nightcrawler, we will provide recommendations for movies with similar messages and vibes.
Cast
- Jake Gyllenhaal – Louis “Lou” Bloom
- Rene Russo – Nina Romina
- Riz Ahmed – Rick
- Bill Paxton – Joe Loder
- Kevin Rahm – Frank Kruse
- Michael Hyatt – Detective Frontieri
- Ann Cusack – Linda
- Dan Gilroy – Writer and director
Movies like Nightcrawler
Taxi Driver (1976)
Taxi Driver is a psychological thriller that explores the life of Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro), a lonely, insomniac taxi driver in New York City. The film delves into the dark underbelly of the city and Bickle’s unstable psyche as he becomes increasingly obsessed with saving a young prostitute, Iris (Jodie Foster). The movie is a masterpiece in filmmaking, showcasing Martin Scorsese’s unique directorial vision, and boasts an outstanding performance from De Niro.
Drive (2011)
Drive is a neo-noir action thriller that follows a stunt driver (Ryan Gosling) who moonlights as a getaway driver for criminals. When he gets involved with his neighbor (Carey Mulligan) and her husband’s criminal activities, the driver’s life spirals out of control. The film is known for its stylish visuals (from director Nicolas Winding Refn), intense action sequences, and haunting soundtrack, making it a cult classic.
American Psycho (2000)
Directed by Mary Harron, American Psycho is a darkly comedic psychological thriller based on Bret Easton Ellis’ novel. It tells the story of Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), a wealthy investment banker with a secret life as a serial killer. The film is a biting satire of 1980s yuppie culture and explores themes of greed, materialism, and violence. Bateman’s descent into madness is reminiscent of Nightcrawler‘s Lou Bloom, as both films feature disturbed protagonists who engage in horrific acts.
Collateral (2004)
From director Michael Mann, Collateral is a crime thriller centered around a contract killer, Vincent (Tom Cruise), who forces a taxi driver, Max (Jamie Foxx), to drive him around Los Angeles as he completes a series of assassinations. The film is praised for its intense performances, particularly from Cruise, who plays against type as a ruthless hitman. The movie shares similarities with Nightcrawler in its portrayal of a dark, gritty Los Angeles and the exploration of a morally complex protagonist.
The Laundromat (2015)
Directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman, and Antonio Banderas, The Laundromat tells the story of the Panama Papers scandal and the global system of offshore tax havens. The film highlights the ways in which powerful individuals and corporations use their influence to evade taxes and hide their wealth, and the challenges faced by those who seek to hold them accountable.
Spotlight (2015)
Directed by Tom McCarthy and starring Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, and Michael Keaton, Spotlight tells the story of a team of journalists who investigate and expose the Catholic Church’s cover-up of child sexual abuse. The film examines the role of the media in holding those in power culpable and the challenges faced by journalists who risk everything to uncover the truth.
The Conversation (1974)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, The Conversation is a psychological thriller that follows Harry Caul (Gene Hackman), a surveillance expert who becomes obsessed with a conversation he has recorded between a couple, believing that they are in danger. The film is a tense, slow-burning exploration of paranoia, privacy, and obsession, with an outstanding performance from Hackman. The Conversation shares a similar theme with Nightcrawler: the invasion of privacy and the consequences of unethical behavior.
A Scanner Darkly (2006)
A Scanner Darkly is a sci-fi thriller from Richard Linklater based on Philip K. Dick’s novel. The film uses rotoscope animation to tell the story of an undercover agent (Keanu Reeves) who becomes increasingly paranoid as he investigates a drug ring. The movie offers a unique visual experience and a compelling story about addiction, surveillance, and identity. Like Nightcrawler, A Scanner Darkly explores the consequences of a morally dubious profession.
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