The Neon Demon

Trailer

Trailer release date: June 2016 Genre: horror
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Thriller Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Refn Writers: Nicolas Winding Refn (story), Nicolas Winding Refn (screenplay)
Stars: Elle Fanning, Jenna Malone, Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks

Jesse, an aspiring model, moves to Los Angeles, where her vitality and youth are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will use any means to get what she has.

I still absolutely love Drive / Valhalla Rising / Bronson, though I definitely have some mixed feelings about Only God Forgives. Really hoping this one makes up for OGF. 😬

If there is one thing you can count on from Nicolas Winding Refn, it’s his sense of style. I don't see why Starry Eyes would be any different in that regard.

Sounds interesting—plus, I still haven't seen Abbey Lee outside of a runway show. 👍

This brings Starry Eyes http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2793490/ to mind.

Nicolas Winding Refn and horror... honestly, shouldn't that be a match made in heaven?

bluenomad2 said:This brings Starry Eyes http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2793490/ to mind.

So, is it actually any good?

I thought she was great... honestly one of the most stunning actresses I've seen on screen, and man, those teeth were perfect

plus the movie itself is actually pretty solid

This movie is pure fantasy. It’s shot beautifully—honestly, I’m kind of obsessed. I knew I was in for something decent, but I didn't think it would hit this hard. 😍
I see people complaining about it being all style and no substance, but I don't really buy that. The visuals tell their own story, and they leave you with this feeling that just sticks with you for days.
Personally, it gives me major A Clockwork Orange vibes.
And the soundtrack? Totally mindblowing.
I think I might actually watch it again later today. 😁

I’ve sat through A Clockwork Orange at least two or three times now, and frankly, I don't see any connection whatsoever to this absolute garbage of a movie. Even Starry Eyes http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2793490/
turns out to be a better film by comparison.

goldenhound32 said:I’ve sat through A Clockwork Orange at least two or three times now, and frankly, I don't see any connection whatsoever to this absolute garbage of a movie. Even Starry Eyes http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2793490/
turns out to be a better film by comparison.

Yeah, well, what can I say? I actually wrote an essay on Hell based on that movie which ended up getting me into Yale, so I still get that same vibe from it. 🥱

Style over substance.

Look, I’ve always had a soft spot for Nicolas Winding Refn lately, but this one just didn't click for me. It feels like his shallowest story yet, and honestly, other directors have handled this kind of plot much better.

The artsy crowd will probably love it. And sure, some of the scenes are a total knockout visually and sonically, but at the end of the day, it's just a glorified, overextended style exercise.

Ryan Murphy said:Yeah, well, what can I say? I actually wrote an essay on Hell based on that movie which ended up getting me into Yale, so I still get that same vibe from it. 🥱

Are you actually serious right now? I was under the impression that this only applied if your father was having an affair. 🙂

Best of luck out on the lake.

I mean, look, the movie's alright, sure, but the script? It’s absolute garbage. Like, zero substance. Very interesting, very interesting... if you like wasting your time.

Robert: Real beauty... it's basically the ultimate currency. If she didn't have that, she'd be absolutely nothing.

Dean: I don't know, I think you've got that one wrong.

Robert: What, you actually gonna try and tell me it's about what's on the inside that matters?

Dean: Yeah. Honestly, that's exactly my take on it.

Robert: I mean, let's be real. If she wasn't gorgeous... you probably wouldn't have even bothered to glance her way.
Beauty isn't everything.
It's the only thing.

That dialogue—and that designer's monologue from the same scene—really sums up what this movie is all about. It’s just artificial, hyper-stylized beauty polished to a mirror shine (and let’s be real, if it wasn't visually stunning, half the audience wouldn't even bother showing up) that hits your senses but leaves you feeling totally empty underneath. There's zero authenticity or emotion here. Like the guy said, you can tell from an airplane whether beauty is manufactured or if it’s the real deal that draws you in from miles away. This film? It doesn't have it. No soul at all. 😁
The script is just awful.
I honestly feel for Jenna Malone's partner having to deal with a tribute like this.

The only moment that felt truly raw, human, and visceral was when Jenna Malone lets her primal instincts take over.

Look, it’s a dumb story with even dumber dialogue. Sure, it takes place in the fashion world, but what else have you got? You get a few attempts at these hypnotic audio-visual sequences, but all they really achieve is making you feel sorry for the characters. If anyone actually digs this movie visually, it’s strictly because of the production design and the sets—not because of any actual cinematography or directing skill. The camera work is boring, predictable, and always right where you expect it to be. Every frame is clear and easy to read. There isn't a single attempt to catch you off guard. It’s all just designed for mindless consumption.
The audience basically gets pacified by a sugary aesthetic and some overly sentimental music.

Dennis Martin6 said:Look, it’s a dumb story with even dumber dialogue. Sure, it takes place in the fashion world, but what else have you got? You get a few attempts at these hypnotic audio-visual sequences, but all they really achieve is making you feel sorry for the characters. If anyone actually digs this movie visually, it’s strictly because of the production design and the sets—not because of any actual cinematography or directing skill. The camera work is boring, predictable, and always right where you expect it to be. Every frame is clear and easy to read. There isn't a single attempt to catch you off guard. It’s all just designed for mindless consumption.
The audience basically gets pacified by a sugary aesthetic and some overly sentimental music.

exactly 👍

cheaply made junk produced in Taiwan ☕

Honestly, even if this had been shot in Thailand, it probably would've turned out better than this!
The rest of it? Total waste of time... and even when they try to weave it into the plot, it’s just a massive miss. The whole thing feels incredibly watered down.

Only God Forgives 2. Man, it’s a bit of a slog—I actually had to watch it in two separate sittings just to get through. I don't mind this kind of stuff when I'm in the right headspace, though. It's definitely style over substance. Honestly, if he could just hire a decent screenwriter here and there to back up the visuals, his movies would actually be worth sitting through.

Ashley Grant66 said:That dialogue—and that designer's monologue from the same scene—really sums up what this movie is all about. It’s just artificial, hyper-stylized beauty polished to a mirror shine (and let’s be real, if it wasn't visually stunning, half the audience wouldn't even bother showing up) that hits your senses but leaves you feeling totally empty underneath. There's zero authenticity or emotion here. Like the guy said, you can tell from an airplane whether beauty is manufactured or if it’s the real deal that draws you in from miles away. This film? It doesn't have it. No soul at all. 😁
The script is just awful.
I honestly feel for Jenna Malone's partner having to deal with a tribute like this.

The only moment that felt truly raw, human, and visceral was when Jenna Malone lets her primal instincts take over.

Dennis Martin6 said:Look, it’s a dumb story with even dumber dialogue. Sure, it takes place in the fashion world, but what else have you got? You get a few attempts at these hypnotic audio-visual sequences, but all they really achieve is making you feel sorry for the characters. If anyone actually digs this movie visually, it’s strictly because of the production design and the sets—not because of any actual cinematography or directing skill. The camera work is boring, predictable, and always right where you expect it to be. Every frame is clear and easy to read. There isn't a single attempt to catch you off guard. It’s all just designed for mindless consumption.
The audience basically gets pacified by a sugary aesthetic and some overly sentimental music.

Spot on.

I actually liked it though 😁
The plot is shallow and the filmmaking feels cheap, much like the fashion industry itself. And honestly, that didn't bother me at all; if anything, I kind of enjoyed it 😁

It reminded me of Excision, haha. Another piece of beautiful trash.

There’s just way too much dead air in the dialogue. Everything feels cold, surface-level, and honestly? Kind of hard to buy. The visuals look great, sure, but the whole thing was such a slog to get through ☕

I’m starting to worry that Nicolas Winding Refn hit his peak with Charles Bronson, which is a total masterpiece compared to this. Don't get me wrong, Drive was good, but still...