Review of The Neon Demon (2016) by Philip L — 28 Jun 2016

The Neon Demon - 4 / 5.

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn.

Review written by: Kenneth J Good.

What a sinister treat Nicolas Winding Refn, the director of Drive, gave us with the Neon Demon. It is very rare to have a film built on substance rather than flash. Where most movies will use poetic characters and fantasy settings to paint us a pretty picture filling us with hope, Nicolas Winding Refn reveals to us a deadly reality. The soul devouring reality of LA's model industry.

Elle Fanning shines throughout the film, playing the nervous newcomer to LA's model industry. She's taken in immediately. Unfortunately for her, LA is filled with vipers full of envy. Deadly, deadly envy. She soon learns how envy feeds the competition within the models.

Nicolas Winding Refn will take you through a slow but intriguing ride, hopefully reminding you, films can be thought provoking pieces of art again. Through his direction we see a surreal world, which felt real. Every piece of what makes up a film was used brilliantly. Music added emotion. Facial cues told entire scenes. Simple subtle moments which could easily be missed, added whole new layers to the film. And the under lying subtext will leave you with questions about the world.

On the negative side of things, there isn't much to say without getting petty. The more well known actors/actresses have the smallest roles, such as Keanu Reeves and Christina Hendricks, and there was one scene which took me out of the movie. Although I do have to say, this film isn't for everyone. If you're not into slow burners, which are told in a more subtle fashion, you might want to skip this one, or at least wait until it is out on a streaming platform. It is easy to miss the moments which make this film a piece of art. The story isn't always directly acted out or spoken either, rather it is left for you decipher at times. Often you will have to read the actors every movement, especially within their face. Personally I enjoyed how the story was told. It felt real. Often movies make everyone into flawed poets, living out bright lives. The Neon Demon is the polar opposite of such textbook cliches. It will take you down into a dark world. A world which shows you a darkness lying within us all.