Nightmare Alley

Matt Feury

Editor – Cam McLauchlin

NIGHTMARE ALLEY editor, Cam McLauchlin has been working with director Guillermo Del Toro dating back to their time together on PACIFIC RIM (2013).  But up to this point Cam had exclusively served in assistant editing and associate editing roles for Del Toro.  NIGHTMARE ALLEY marks McLauchlin’s first time as lead editor for the celebrated director.

Set in the 1940’s. NIGHTMARE ALLEY tells the tale of Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper), a down-on-his-luck drifter who endears himself to a clairvoyant (Toni Collette) and her mentalist husband (David Strathairn) at a traveling carnival. Using newly acquired knowledge, Carlisle crafts a golden ticket to success by swindling the elite and wealthy. Hoping for a big score, he soon hatches a scheme to con a dangerous tycoon with help from a mysterious psychiatrist who might be his most formidable opponent yet.

CAM McLAUCHLIN

As a film & television editor based out of Toronto and Los Angeles, Cam’s career began in Toronto working as an assistant editor for Guillermo Del Toro on PACIFIC RIM, THE STRAIN, CRIMSON PEAK and eventually as an associate editor on SHAPE OF WATER.  Cam also edited the horror cult classic, THE VOID with alumni from Canadian film production and directing company, Astron-6.  Other selected work includes; Max Minghellas’ feature debut musical, TEEN SPIRIT and Dogme 95 member, Lone Schefrig’s KINDNESS OF STRANGERS.  Cam is currently working with Ana Lily Amirpour for Guillermo’s Netflix anthology series, CABINET OF CURIOUSITIES.

Editing NIGHTMARE ALLEY

In our discussion with NIGHTMARE ALLEY editor, Cam McLauchlin we talk about:

  • Rising up the ranks from assistant to associate to lead editor
  • Making bulldogs bark for Guillermo Del Toro
  • Managing notes from the director, producers, stars and the studio
  • The challenge of cutting fluid camera work
  • Assisting neurotic editors

The Credits

Get your free 100GB of media transfer at MASV

Visit ExtremeMusic for all your production audio needs

Save 20% on Avid Media Composer

Subscribe to The Rough Cut podcast and never miss an episode

Visit The Rough Cut on YouTube



Click here to download the Episode!