If It Bleeds, It Leads: “Nightcrawler” is Now Streaming for Free
If you’re looking for a crime thriller that will make you want to shower immediately after watching, you have to check out Nightcrawler (2014). It’s the directorial debut of Dan Gilroy, and it features what might be the most unhinged, terrifyingly dedicated performance of Jake Gyllenhaal’s career.
A Sociopath with a Camcorder
Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a desperate loner and petty thief who finds his true calling in the world of L.A. “stringing.” These are freelance camera crews who spend their nights racing to the scenes of car crashes, fires, and murders to film the carnage and sell the footage to local news stations.
Lou isn’t just good at the job—he’s too good. With a “hunger” that is both literal and metaphorical, Lou begins to blur the line between reporting the news and manufacturing it.
Alongside Gyllenhaal, you’ve got Rene Russo as a ratings-hungry news director, the late, great Bill Paxton as a rival cameraman, and a breakout Riz Ahmed as Lou’s tragically overwhelmed assistant.
Fact vs. Fiction: Is It Real?
While Lou Bloom’s intense, specific brand of crazy is (thankfully) fictional, the world he inhabits is very real. The film isn’t based on a particular person, but it draws heavily from the real-life subculture of freelance crime journalists. Dan Gilroy was inspired by the legendary 1930s/40s crime photographer Weegee, who was famous for arriving at crime scenes before the police. The movie is a biting satire of “ambulance chasing” journalism and the “if it bleeds, it leads” mentality of modern news cycles.
Why You Should Watch (or Re-watch)
Nightcrawler is a beautifully shot, pulse-pounding look at the dark and gritty side of the “American Dream.” It’s a movie about what happens when blind ambition meets zero ethics, something too prevalent these days. Gyllenhaal famously lost 20 pounds for the role to look like a “hungry coyote,” and his unblinking stare will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Where to watch:
Nightcrawler is available to stream on multiple services, including Tubi (Free with ads), Kanopy (Free with a library card), and Paramount+; it’s also available on all major platforms (Apple, Amazon, Google).
