The film opens with Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) stealing scrap metal and attempting to sell it. He stumbles upon a car crash scene where he observes freelance cameramen recording the aftermath for the local news. Intrigued by the profession, Lou acquires a cheap camera and police scanner and starts his career as a “nightcrawler.”
Lou quickly becomes adept at capturing gruesome crime scenes and accidents, selling his footage to Nina Romina (Rene Russo), the news director at a struggling local TV station. As Lou becomes more successful, he starts manipulating crime scenes, sometimes arriving before the police and even altering crime scenes to get more sensational footage.
Lou hires an assistant, Rick (Riz Ahmed), to help him navigate the city at night. Despite Lou’s ruthless and morally questionable methods, Rick continues working with him due to financial need. Lou’s competitiveness and lack of moral boundaries lead him to increasingly dangerous situations.
The climax of the film revolves around Lou sabotaging a rival cameraman and going to great lengths to capture footage of a violent home invasion. The police arrive, and Lou interferes with their investigation to get the best shots. The film ends with Lou achieving financial success and launching his own video news production company.
“Nightcrawler” received critical acclaim for its intense atmosphere, Jake Gyllenhaal’s chilling performance, and its exploration of the media’s sensationalism and ethics. The film serves as a dark commentary on the pursuit of success in the media industry and the lengths some individuals are willing to go for their ambitions.