The Neon Demon
Nicolas Winding Refn’s latest film will either entrance you and have you thinking about it long after watching or leave you bored and disgusted.
I watched this film with my girlfriend and we both fell into the two opposite camps, I loved it and am still thinking about the underlying meanings to this day where as she hated it and questioned my judgment immediately after the film finished.
The Neon Demon swirls around Jesse (Elle Fanning) a sixteen year old model who arrives in Los Angeles with dreams of making a name for herself in the modelling industry. Elle has that “it” factor and is immediately swooned upon by casting agents, fashion designers, photographers and makeup artists alike but the seedy twisted underbelly of Hollywood soon shows it’s ugly face.
Whilst the plot of the film is bare bones and superficial, which may be a tongue in cheek nod at the fashion industry itself, the direction and cinematography is phenomenal. Each and scene is filled with beautiful imagery which could easily have been ripped straight from fashion magazines whilst also feeling nuanced in what is depicted plot wise just from the design and layout. The biggest problem with this approach though is that it drags the pacing of the film right back which can make it feel laboured if you're not meticulously scanning over each sequence.
Finally Cliff Martinez’ electronic influenced soundtrack pairs with the imagery phenomenally almost making The Neon Demon feel like a drawn out music video.
Obviously this is a film which you shouldn’t just base your judgment on a review score as it is incredibly divisive. Don’t go into this one thinking you’re going to get a relaxing weekend film to watch. The Neon Demon requires your full attention but it’s a film I highly recommend if you can do so.
★★★★
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