Review of The Neon Demon (2016) by Russell D — 26 Jun 2016

I've read reviews of this that say the problem is that Refn has something to say, but doesn't know how to say it.

... That couldn't be further from what I think the problem with Refn really is. The problem, as I see it, is that he knows exactly what he's trying to say, without actually having anything beyond the most surface level of observations to make.

Here is Refn's entire point within his 117 minute long piece of cinematic trash, The Neon Demon:

The fashion industry sells society, and specifically young women, a borderline unattainable standard of external beauty in order to equate the idea of achieving said standard with self-worth. The never-ending drive to achieve this standard perpetually leeches off of these young women until it becomes all consuming, and they mere shadows of their former selves.

... There. Two sentences. To describe what Refn took 117 minutes and millions of dollars to say. Hell, I've seen Tumblr posts about this idea with more substance.

My biggest issue I have with this isn't that it's not something worth saying, but that Refn adds nothing new to a point that's been made a million times before. There's nothing here that people much smarter and more interesting than Refn haven't said already.

The movie says everything it has to say by the five minute mark, and you think, neigh hope, to yourself that maybe Refn will elaborate. Put more of a spin on this idea. Does the movie do any of that, though? No. It doesn't. It just stays right where it is. Stagnantly making the same point over and over again for the next 112 minutes of its bloated run time.

That being said, the movie is gorgeous to look at. So props to the cinematographer. The music is also dope, and if there's a vinyl record of this film's score available, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want it. So yeah, I'll give it one star.