While not billed as a horror film, I found Nightcrawler to be terrifying in both concept and execution.

It's a well known fact that the media is corrupt, and that the bloodthirsty populace follows their grisly scenes and warnings like lambs to the slaughter. It's another thing entirely to see the dark underbelly, the very people that provide the media with those bloody images and horrifying tag-lines.

Jake Gyllenhaal's portrayal of Louis Bloom is astounding. Creepy and unsettling and downright loathsome - yet absolutely captivating to watch. Bloom is an excellent example of the type of sociopath that would be drawn to nightcrawling, to making money off the suffering and misery of others.

The script, performances, soundtrack and cinematography come together to form an incredibly tense and quietly ominous film. I held my breath throughout the entire scene where Louis calmly explains to Rick (Riz Ahmed) that he will hurt him badly if he doesn't cooperate. The almost uplifting music during the scene where Louis drags a man's corpse for a better shot is downright disturbing.

Nightcrawler also does an excellent job of creating and capturing the atmosphere of Los Angeles at night. The film pulls you in and makes you a part of that world. The incredible cinematography does a lot in this regard, with beautiful shots of the city at night and fast-paced driving sequences.

Nightcrawler is a fantastic film, but it certainly isn't for everyone. Some may be put off by the honest and brutal portrayal of the ambulance-chasing media coupled with the cold, manipulative, and completely unlikable character of Louis Bloom.