Review of The Neon Demon (2016) by Warwick B — 11 Jul 2016
Director Nicolas Winding Refn?s new movie is a tale of beauty, ambition, lust and desperation set within the cutthroat world of fashion.
Elle Fanning stars as Jesse a fresh faced teenager who has just moved to LA to take up a modelling career, with dreams of becoming the next big thing. There she?s preyed upon a group of fashionistas who either fancy her, envy her and want her dead.
The film takes a ghoulish turn into a glam femme horror as Refn weaves a story of bloodthirsty narcissism, cannibalism and necrophilia - a scene that had critics crying "Depravity!" on its debut and which will stay with you forever.
Fanning does a good job of portraying innocence lost and there are sparkling turns from Jena Malone, a make-up artist who takes the young wannabe model user her wing, and Keanu Reeves as a seedy motel owner. There's a fine electronic score by Clive Martinez.
The Neon Demon has the feeling of the fashion world, beautifully stylised but fake and no depth. What is says about the fashion world has been said a thousand times before.
This review of The Neon Demon (2016) was written by Warwick B on 11 Jul 2016.
The Neon Demon has generally received mixed reviews.
Was this review helpful?
