--- title: "Nightcrawler: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/nightcrawler/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/nightcrawler" critics_score: 83 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Nightcrawler (2014): what the critics said Critics' score 83 from 15 reviews: 13 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Nightcrawler’s dark comedy and tense account of ambition in television news. Praise centres on Jake Gyllenhaal’s Lou Bloom: the reviews repeatedly describe a chilling, unnerving performance whose corporate language makes his ruthlessness grimly funny. Dan Gilroy’s script and direction also draw praise for keeping the satire entertaining, while Robert Elswit’s night-time Los Angeles photography supplies atmosphere. Several reviews single out Rene Russo’s supporting performance as a further strength. The disagreement concerns how much the film has to say beneath its slick thriller mechanics. The New York Times finds it shallow despite Gyllenhaal’s disciplined performance, while Slant Magazine sees a familiar critique of media exploitation that needs deeper scrutiny. Screen Daily questions whether the character study, thriller and media commentary fit together. The spread is broad, though enthusiasm predominates: even the more doubtful reviews praise the lead performance, making the satire’s depth the main dividing line. ## Empire — Dan Jolin Rating 5/5. 25 September 2014. The critic calls it sharp, dark, satirical and bone-rattlingly thrilling, highlighting Dan Gilroy's cracking script and direction alongside Robert Elswit's striking visuals. Jake Gyllenhaal delivers a career-peak performance as the chilling, ambitious Lou Bloom. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/nightcrawler-review/) ## Radio Times — Damon Wise Rating 5/5. The critic praises the film as a dark, entertaining neo-noir and fascinating character study that doubles as a state-of-the-nation address on cut-throat media culture. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-fg9iws/nightcrawler/) ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 5/5. 6 September 2014. The critic hails it as a viciously funny, major portrait of media perversity and insatiable ambition, singling out Gyllenhaal’s ferocious, career-best turn as the amoral antihero. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/nightcrawler) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 27 October 2014. The film is dangerously beautiful and adeptly paced, with a cultural charge from its focus on money and entrepreneurship in the news trade; Gyllenhaal’s unblinking Lou is the scariest element. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/11/03/making-news-2) ## Total Film — Jamie Graham Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 27 October 2014. The critic describes it as a ghoulish satire with its finger on the pulse, praising Jake Gyllenhaal's sensational, chilling and mesmerising lead performance as Lou Bloom. The film is commended for its mood, neon-soaked LA visuals and strong supporting turns despite lacking subtlety. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/nightcrawler-review/) ## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward Rating 4/4/3. 30 October 2014. The critic calls it a chilling modern monster movie and caustic satire on sensationalist TV news, praising Gyllenhaal’s unsettling, career-best performance as the sociopathic protagonist. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/nightcrawler) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 30 October 2014. Nightcrawler is pulp with a purpose, a smart film grounded in disturbing reality and powered by an extraordinary Jake Gyllenhaal performance that examines a hollow-eyed hustler thriving in a society we have made. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-nightcrawler-movie-review-20141031-column.html) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2014. Festival review. The critic finds Gyllenhaal’s gutsy performance compelling but notes that the tonally bold debut cannot fully reconcile its ambitions as character study, thriller or media commentary. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/nightcrawler/5077188.article) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 30 October 2014. The film is a modest urban thriller with a disciplined, creepy performance by Jake Gyllenhaal, but it remains slick and shallow, never reaching the gravity of its Scorsese influences. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/31/movies/nightcrawler-stars-jake-gyllenhaal-as-an-obsessive.html) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan 31 October 2014. The critic praises Jake Gyllenhaal's intense, Method-driven performance as the driven crime-scene videographer Lou Bloom and highlights Rene Russo's superb turn as the cynical news editor. The film is seen as a smart, darkly comic thriller that effectively captures real-world horror and the tricks of the journalist's trade. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/nightcrawler-film-review-jake-gyllenhaal-takes-staring-to-a-new-level-in-this-darkly-comic-thriller-9830201.html) ## Slant Magazine — Chris Cabin 28 October 2014. The critic finds Gilroy's debut offers only a familiar vision of media figures as ratings-obsessed exploiters of misery. It singles out Gyllenhaal's unnerving performance for praise while faulting the shallow satire and failure to deeply explore the media's complicity. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/nightcrawler/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 2 November 2014. The critic praises Jake Gyllenhaal’s unnerving, icily comic performance as the deluded antihero Lou Bloom and notes strong support from Rene Russo. The film is called a lean, grown-up thriller that stands out for its hard-nosed drama and memorable monster, despite a crowd-pleasing chase at the end. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/02/nightcrawler-review-dan-gilroy-jake-gyllenhaal-rene-russo) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Jordan Mintzer 6 September 2014. Festival review. The review describes Gilroy's debut as oscillating between neo-noir and satire, with Gyllenhaal delivering a standout unhinged performance as the ruthless protagonist. It notes that while entertaining, the film's tonal shifts and loose screws prevent it from being fully solid. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/nightcrawler-toronto-review-730670/) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 5/5. 31 October 2014. The critic calls it a superb and original thriller that entertainingly critiques media greed and societal ills through a riveting performance by Gyllenhaal as a sociopathic cameraman. They single out the atmospheric cinematography of LA at night and the sharp script for praise. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/nightcrawler-review/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating A. 7 September 2014. Festival review. The critic praises the film's scathing portrait of ruthless ambition and local news sensationalism, centered on an amoral protagonist. Jake Gyllenhaal's intense, chilling performance as Lou Bloom is singled out as the year's best. [Read the review](https://collider.com/nightcrawler-review/) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating A-. 6 September 2014. Festival review. The critic lauds Gyllenhaal's revelatory performance and the film's dark, cynical examination of ambition and media ethics, noting its thrilling execution despite some early issues. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/tiff-review-dan-gilroys-nightcrawler-starring-jake-gyllenhaal-rene-russo-20140906/) ## Digital Spy — Emma Dibdin Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 2014. The critic highlights Gyllenhaal's unsettling performance as an ambitious and ruthless stringer in a black-hearted satirical thriller about crime journalism and TV news sensationalism. They praise the pulpy, tense script and neon-tinged vision of LA while noting weaker supporting roles. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a602331/nightcrawler-review-jake-gyllenhaal-excels-in-black-hearted-thriller/) ## HeyUGuys — Brody Rossiter Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2014. The critic praises the film's scathing satire on news media and Jake Gyllenhaal's transformative performance as the ambitious, depraved Lou Bloom, highlighting its relevance and unique take on capitalism and voyeurism. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/nightcrawler-review/) ## Eye for Film — Donald Munro Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 2 November 2014. The review commends the skillful portrayal of the corporate metaphor through black comedy and action, praising Gyllenhaal's creepy performance and the film's commentary on media exploitation. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/nightcrawler-2014-film-review-by-donald-munro) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond 29 October 2014. Pete Hammond highlights Gyllenhaal’s best performance maybe ever in this film about an unscrupulous videographer, along with a fine turn by Rene Russo, directed by Dan Gilroy. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2014/10/nightcrawler-review-pete-hammond-on-jake-gyllenhaals-local-news-creep-1201266941/) ## The Wrap 30 October 2014. The critic praises Jake Gyllenhaal's astonishing performance in Dan Gilroy’s merciless satire that denounces the crime porn of local TV news, singling out the eerie use of corporate pep talk dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/nightcrawler-review-jake-gyllenhaal-rene-russo-riz-ahmed/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/nightcrawler.md