The Neon Demon (2016) - Film Review

Review:

*Originally written February 12th, 2017*

"Beauty isn't everything. It's the only thing"

Nicolas Winding Refn’s previous film ‘Only God Forgives’ was critically slammed and hated by most, while I didn’t hate it, it was definitely a huge step down from the likes of Drive and Bronson from the Danish director. 3 years later, Refn has learned from his mistakes and made one of the most visually beautiful, compelling and most well scored films I’ve ever seen.

Ditching the macho male fuelled fantasies of his previous films, this time he tells the female led story of a young aspiring model who moves to Los Angeles and quickly becomes the next big thing because of the her special “thing” she has. As her ego gets the better of her, a group of jealous models stop at nothing and go to extreme lengths to possess her beauty.

This film is as abstract as they come. The story is thin and moves at a snails pace, moved along by increasingly beautiful modelling shoots that really do display Winding Refn’s eye for beauty, colour and visuals. While the story is arguably thin, it’s the usual tale of a young girl consumed by the horrors of a shallow and vapid industry, it is no less compelling.

It is purely made for its visuals and music, which are truly incredible. This might be the best looking film I’ve ever seen. I’ve watched it twice now and each viewing I was sucked in for 2 hours of hypnotic visual nirvana. Every frame is a beautiful painting, filled with meaning and metaphor. While the story is thin, everything else is dense and full detail that has more than meets the eye. This is a film that will only improve on rewatches as you notice more and pick up on the little things.

Along with the visuals, where The Neon Demon also succeeds is in its music. Every track of the score is something of ’80s feeling electronic beauty composed by Julien Refn and Cliff Martinez. It made the opening titles some of the best I’ve scene, I even got a bit a “The Thing” vibe from it, bringing such an unsettling feeling that set the tone for the rest of the film.

The cast are all great. Elle Fanning leads as Jesse, the model who soon lets her own narcissism and ego get the best of her. Jena Malone was the standout of the cast, she did some things that you can really only say “Wow, you really did that. Bravo”. The male cast are sidelined to really creepy characters, but they were all memorable, especially Keanu Reeves as the sleazy motel owner who brings some black comedy to the mix.

While it is slow, it builds to its natural conclusion well, and while the balls out the bath insanity of the last 20 minutes seem to come out of nowhere, there are a few hints of what’s to come littered throughout the film. Oh, and when I say insanity, the last scenes of this film are truly some of the most grotesque and disturbing content I’ve seen in a while. It goes places I know a lot of people won’t be able to stomach. It’s disgusting, but it’s fitting and feels like the only place this film could have gone.


The Neon Demon will no doubt straight disgust some people, while others it might just bore, but for me it connected and I was in a hypnotic state for the whole run-time. A true masterpiece and form of creative expression. Refn, you are a genius. I think he might be my favourite director currently working. I am far more interested in what he has coming than Tarantino or Scorsese right now. My film of the year for 2016.

10/10 Dans

The Neon Demon is out now on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK
Watch the trailer below:

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