While an actor can make or break a film’s effectiveness, occasionally the actor exclusively creates the film’s success. Nightcrawler is of the latter, working because of Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance. Without Jake Gyllenhaal there is no film, no acclaim, no effectiveness. If there’s a reason for recommending Nightcrawler, it’s for Gyllenhaal’s frighteningly brilliant performance.
From Donnie Darko to Prisoners I've always enjoyed his performances, considering Gyllenhaal an exceptional actor; his role as Louis Bloom simply confirms how right I am. Louis is the first role where Gyllenhaal shed’s all semblance of charm and attraction, becoming a character who is both physically and personally repulsive. Louis is pure and simply a vile human being, the scummiest of scum who represents the worst of media and paparazzi; he also happens to be our protagonist. Physically Louis has a scrawny, almost malnourished look which shows best in his boney face and greasy hair; giving him an appropriate sleazy salesman look. Louis hates people, yet hides it under a façade of compliments and smooth talking; he’s the kind of guy who’d cheerfully shake your hand while simultaneously stabbing you in the back. Once a character gets to know him however, the mask becomes apparent; revealing an ambitious, egotistical and apathetic man caring only for personal achievement (making him perfect for the freelance world of crime journalism). Louis is deceptively intelligent however, which when combined with ambition and lack of empathy, makes him particularly dangerous. When Louis wants something, he gets it, and god help anyone (enemy or ally) who stands in his way of success.