Working on 'Nightmare Alley' a dream for Canadian Oscar nominees

Guillermo del Toro's 'Nightmare Alley' features the famous director's attention to detail in large part to del Toro's dedicated Canadian collaborators, who include costume designer Luis Sequeira, production designer Tamara Deverell and set decorator Shane Vieau, all up for Oscars this year.

The neo-noir thriller is based on the 1946 novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham. It follows the twisted tale of a manipulative grifter, played by Bradley Cooper, who poses as a mentalist and meets his match in a mysterious psychiatrist, played by Cate Blanchett. The two team up for one big con in 1940s New York City.

It's a classic del Toro tale with a melancholy centre, fantastical backdrop and haunting characters. But more than anything, it's the attention to detail that has become his signature, from makeup to hairstyling to costume.

That's thanks in large part to del Toro's dedicated Canadian collaborators, who include costume designer Luis Sequeira, production designer Tamara Deverell and set decorator Shane Vieau, all up for Oscars this year.

In addition to the shared nomination for Deverell and Vieau and one for Sequeira, the film also received a nomination for best picture, and best cinematography for Denmark's Dan Laustsen.