Review of The Neon Demon (2016) by Austin R — 08 Jul 2017

Long story short: The prettiest movie I've ever seen to feature someone both throwing up an eyeball and then it being re-eaten. With that out of the way:

Wow...I don't even know where to begin with this one. At once absolutely stunning, grotesque, shallow and cleverly ridiculous, I'm pretty confounded about how I actually feel about it as a film. As just a visual project, it's right up my alley in terms of aesthetics and design, one of the most beautifully photographed films I've ever seen.

But the plot is threadbare and the characters thin, so much so that they don't even resemble actual human beings. It also mixes in a straightforward, sometimes boneheaded social critique on the modeling industry and objectification of women that kind of hits its mark even though it will make you roll your eyes at its methods. But there is an alien quality to the whole story that somehow makes it engaging and otherworldly. The Los Angeles shown here feels like the capital of some faraway planet where people literally eat each other to gain their powers. Hell, even Keanu Reeves feels less human in this somehow.

All in all, Refn is a ridiculously stylish director that makes the cinematic equivalent of rock candy: Pretty little morsels that look and taste great, but that kind of hurt to consume and make you feel a little gross afterwards.That being said, I loved LOOKING at this movie every single minute...at least up until that eyeball makes an appearance. 3.5/5.