That’s what I do; I hope that if people are watching, they’re experiencing their worst day ever. Nightcrawler marks an impressive first effort from director and writer Dan Gilroy, featuring Jake Gyllenhaal as Louis Bloom, a petty Los Angeles thief searching for employment. After witnessing an accident, he is drawn into the world of filming video news, and realizes the potential to profit from real-life crime. Quickly inserting himself into this environment, Louis soon begins to cross ethical boundaries within his chosen profession. The film unveils the reality of nightcrawlers—actual individuals—and it’s a shadowy existence. Gilroy is skilled at combining different genres, incorporating elements of horror and suspense alongside satirical commentary directed at television news. Bloom is an unsettling figure; he's a sociopath who easily navigates this questionable world, and Gyllenhaal delivers a remarkable performance in portraying him. Appearing thin (Gyllenhaal lost weight for the role), with vacant eyes, and reciting management speeches learned from online sources, Bloom views human suffering solely as a means to generate income. Nina Romina, the TV station editor played by Renee Russo, isn’t much better either, and their connection is complicated but compelling due to the strong writing. The film's visuals needed to be carefully crafted to complement its themes, and fortunately, they are. Primarily set at night, it’s a world of darkness and shadows interspersed with neon-lit cityscapes and muted streetlights. Bloom seems comfortable here; his surroundings reflect his nature, as he has found his place in a dark side of Los Angeles that possesses an unsettling sense of realism. Ultimately, Gilroy and Gyllenhaal manage to captivate the audience so completely that we can’t tear ourselves away, even as Bloom descends further into moral depravity—we are alongside him, observing through his camera lens. The dynamic between Bloom and his only employee, Rick (Riz Ahmed), feels somewhat underdeveloped, but this is a minor issue. Overall, it's a well-made film that’s somber in tone, yet also exciting and disturbingly captivating. 9/10

Source on TMDB