User reviews

I can understand the harsh reviews, this movie isn't for everyone but it's such a GORGEOUS movie, every shot is so aesthetically pleasing and i like it so much, the story and the acting were fine too it's disturbing yes but absolutely not a waste of time

There appear to be some who think this is a movie about the fashion industry. If so, it has about as much to say about fashion as "Suspira" has to say about ballet. Really, this film is about obsession, loneliness, fear and the crippling tension of being on constant guard against the attack of predators. Alone and vulnerable in Los Angeles, Jesse (Elle Fanning) is a skittish prey animal surrounded by the dangers of the urban jungle. As she navigates the threats around her, she transforms into a kind of predator herself. But she will soon discover that not all killers hunt alone.

This film tells the story of a sixteen years old girl who moves to Los Angeles to pursue her modeling dream. She knows that she's beautiful, and quickly establishes herself in the modeling world. Jealousy from other models quickly ensue, with undesirable results.

The beginning of "The Neon Demon" looks quite promising, as it retains the beautiful visuals that Nicholas Winding Refn is known for, but is upbeat because of the electronic music. The plot looks quite interesting as it tells the story of jealous, backstabbing models. Then, the story is interspersed between many visually stunning but purposeless scenes. The ending of the film becomes really bizarre, I got so lost and just could not believe what I was watching. I don't even know what the second half of the film is about, except that it wants to be very provocative. If the film could be consistently like the first half, I would actually have liked it.

Okay, the story isn't much. There is a story for sure but it's very straightforward, fashion industry is cruel. It shows how models can go above and beyond to be successful or keep on being successful and looks isn't a mirror to what's inside. Although people may understand many things or nothing from this movie but that is how I perceived it. . You will find many bad reviews about this simply because people chose to watch a movie that they expected differently in my opinion. This movie doesn't sell itself to be a story driven thriller whatsoever, or action movie. This movie is a movie that is made purely to achieve outstanding, gorgeous visuals that will make your eyes bleed from beauty. It's one mesmerising shot after one. . There is bit of gore, disturbing scenes that includes cannibalism, necrophilia and fetishism. I definitely would define this movie as an erotica alongside with thriller. Erothriler? I personally love these movies, I'd put it in the same category with Raw and Dogtooth, which I loved. Weirdly and disturbing with a touch of ero. . ~This type of movie kind of reminds me of old Giallo movies like Profondo Rosso (1975) and Suspiria (1977), which is getting a remake!!!!, so if you're into those movies that has lots of colour and eroticism and gore, I definitely recommend this movie.

Going into this film, I didn't truly know what to expect. All I knew was that the promotional images really captured my attention, due to the pretty colors, with up-and-coming actress, Elle Fanning in the center. A "nymphet" Tumblr blog I follow also re-blogged images from this. It's some kind of horror (I read the sex/nudity descriptions in the parental guidance section here prior to viewing) that has very mixed reviews.

Much of the the first two acts is relatively slow and realistic. It's got great visuals, despite two scenes with annoying flashing lights. The trip-hop soundtrack by Cliff Martinez is also ear-catching. But, boy, was I not expecting such a final act! Thinking back on it, there's a decent amount of foreshadowing leading up to it. As the track titled, "Are We Having a Party" played over, my eyes were widened as I realized what had happened to Jesse (Fanning). In spite of its disturbing aspects (notably, a scene involving necrophilia), I ended up really liking The Neon Demon. I appreciate how it chose to make audiences uncomfortable rather than the usual "lesbianism is hot~" excuse (ie Birdman). There are critics who hate and/or have called this misogynistic, and I can completely understand why; but that doesn't wane my enjoyment of it.

On the official movie discussion on Reddit, users have called this "David Lynch meets Black Swan," which I also happen to agree with.

It was great to see Abbey Kershaw on-screen again after her debut in Mad Max: Fury Road - also kind of funny her playing an aspiring model, considering she already works as one in real-life; can't wait to see what else she and Fanning have to offer in future projects!

Learning that the director, Nicholas Refn, was born colorblind is very surprising, since his movies are so awashed with vivid colors. I'm planning on watching Only God Forgives and Drive next (the latter generally being considered his best work).

It was a colorful, but brutal story of a woman who wants to be a model and stage actress, but is constantly bullied by three women who are jealous of her beauty and wish to be her by any means necessary. I would've liked it more it the final 20 minutes wasn't so nasty. It was a gruesome finale, but it was mostly suspenseful and entertaining.

The Neon Demon*...

If you like dark sets and polarising effects with haunting synthesised music then you may like this... Then there's the storyline...

I won't ruin it if you haven't seen it, but it is full of metaphors and subliminal messages within the fashion industry and of wanting; beauty and perfection; a naive innocence that allows themself to be caught up in a world of narcissistic traits and devoured by your own beauty and by the hatred and jealousy of others!

It's about coming of age, the unimportance of men and the fear and loathing of making it in an industry of wolves and a world of monsters!

One of those movies that leaves you bewildered after seeing it, but over analysing it due to the wonder of what you have just seen.

It would make a good book!

*(Not for the faint hearted; perfect for an open minded critic who likes a euphemistic, thriller)

The Neon Demon is an excellent, thought provoking journey into the state of the human condition. NWR takes the beauty industry and creates one of the most disturbing and unsettling films I have seen in a very long time.

Some films are not intended to be "watched" in the traditional sense. They are intended to be "experienced". The Neon Demon is one of these films, actually, less a film, more a work of art. The world created here is so absorbing I was mesmerised for the entire film.

Even though there is terrible and bloody violence in TND, that is not what unsettles here. It is the atmosphere, the constant feeling of dread and being preyed upon by ruthless predators, who seem to be around every corner, at the end of every dark alley...

TND is essentially a tale of innocence and vulnerability, and how that innocence can very quickly be lost (or consumed) in the world we live in today. TND explores almost every human emotion and feeling in a very intense way, fear, love, lust, anger, frustration, rejection, obsession, they are all here, and all laid bare in the starkest of ways with no apologies to the viewer.

We see the very soul of these tormented individuals, it provokes thought, introspection and if you are lucky, it changes your outlook on things. It can give an insight into some of the emotions we feel ourselves, in our every day lives, but would never act on them the way the characters in this film do.

It is interesting to see the very extremes of these emotions played out on screen, some in a rather abstract way, others more directly, some with shocking results, others with a more subtle undertone.

This film really is that powerful, and I am so glad that films like this continue to get the green-light.

Beautifully shot (the cinematography, use of colour, and shot-framing are masterful) wonderfully scored, and perfectly cast. TND is by no means an easy film to watch, but if you bring a strong stomach, and a non-judgemental attitude, you may be enriched by it.

Challenging, raw, and with something to say, a perfect example of the "art" of film.

I was interested in the movie cause I really liked the main girl in this movie and I picked up this movie at a family video and the worker there said it was weird. I like weird movies but this was really weird. The whole time as I was watching this I was so confused and the music was very weird. I thought it was entertaining but very weird. It wasn't all that scary but there were some parts that could be. When it was over i wanted more. it felt really slow and all the messed up parts are kind of towards the end. But if you are thinking about watching this movie try to pay attention I still don't really get it. I gave it a 7 because I love the main character she's a great actress and pretty. It also is very artsy. And I am sure the modeling industry is similar to this just not so messed up. But I do recommend this just don't get your hopes up to much, I was a little disappointed.

The brilliant Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn has already offered us the sumptuous Drive (2011) as well as interesting movies like Valhalla Rising (2009), Bronson (2008) or Bleeder (1999). In The Neon Demon (2016), Nicolas Winding Refn locks himself in a world dominated with an always ultra-neat and globally irreproachable aesthetics and characters who are deliberately cold and devoid of empathy. After the first 20/30 minutes, we understood the message and the film would have benefited from being a short film. Que nenni! The film languishes and barely conveys emotion, with a few surrealistic and bloody scenes. Thus, the last third of the film is a show as gore as annoying. As a synthesis: visually amazing but desperately boring.

When aspiring model Jesse (Elle Fanning) moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has.

Although classified as a "horror thriller", this categorization might throw potential viewers off. The horror elements are relatively few and far between, and the thrills are rather subtle. This is not to say the film is in any way a bad picture, simply that it defies conventional categories.

The plot is nothing spectacularly new. In the last few years, we have seen films about the dangers of beauty and fame with Debbie Rochon's "Model Hunger" (which has some coincidental parallels) and "Starry Eyes". But "Neon Demon" is very much about a certain look and atmosphere and not so much about any deep, well-crafted plot or character development.

At almost two hours, the film is paced in a more casual way, and this easily fits into what we call the "slow burn". Those seeking action and excitement will be bored, so please enter with the proper mindset. Instead of action, we are sumptuously provided with a feast of color, neon that can only be compared to "Death Spa" or perhaps "Inherent Vice". This rarity of color is even more striking given that the director claims to be color blind.

The overall tone is weird, or as some have termed it "alien". You can never put your finger on it, but something is off, which (for me) makes it all the more appealing. Today the term "Lynchian" is criminally abused and overused, but it may be apt here: I kept thinking this was a perfect companion for "Mulholland Drive", though I would be hard-pressed to actually explain why.

The music is electronic, occasionally atonal. This is a growing trend that I hope continues to grow. Artists like Diasterpiece ("It Follows") have picked up the mantle left behind by John Carpenter, Tangerine Dream and others. In this case, the music is even more jarring than ever before and really takes on a life of its own.

Elle Fanning is incredible, and she is quickly overshadowing her sister. Perhaps it is not fair to compare the two, but it seems inevitable. Keanu Reeves is very reserved, which is quite refreshing. His name may suggest an "over the top" approach, but that is far from the case here. And special mention must be made of Jena Malone, who is perhaps one of the top actresses in the business today (though her scenes seem to keep getting cut from films). Malone delivers what is likely to be the most disturbing love scene of her career, but given her propensity for strange films, you never know.

Broad Green Pictures is releasing the film on blu-ray on September 27. It is a must-see and probably only gains in power upon repeat viewings. The disc includes an audio commentary with Fanning and the director.

The Neon Demon is yet another original effort and polarizing film from Nicolas Winding Refn. It was already both booed and applauded at Cannes, and this reaction is one I expect to play out when it gets its wide release.

The film draws the viewer in with it's dazzling lighting and visuals, which remain throughout, but also with the mysteries it creates. The mystery of the film results in a compelling narrative, but the last half fails to capitalize on some of the themes and ideas it introduces. However, the main 1-2 ideas are well-developed and relevant. I won't spoil those ideas here, though.

Another positive about the film is the soundtrack composed by Cliff Martinez, which is no surprise given the work he and NWR have done together in the past.

While the soundtrack and visuals are certainly memorable, and the major themes are ones which I commend NWR for developing, my main gripe with the film is its over-indulgent nature. NWR has a fixation on violence and gratuity, and in the past I've had few problems with it, but in this film I felt it was taken too far. Things that other filmmakers would have implied with cues, Winding Refn shows us in great detail. Some will praise him for his willingness to show us what we don't want to see, others will condemn him. I just found most of these scenes to be unnecessarily over the top.

Despite my comparing it to films such as Mulholland Drive and Suspiria, it doesn't feel derivative, but instead like a mostly original experience.

On the whole I'd call The Neon Demon a very good film. It's much different from most of the releases so far this year, which alone makes it worth seeing. However, I would not recommend it to the faint of heart, or those with a general disdain for gore in film.

Like most other divisive films, I expect that this one will be a subject of conversation for years to come.

7/10

It seems that, after the massive success of Drive, Refn is being given the opportunity to make the films he wants to make and take a lot of creative license.

I think this is a good thing, and it's a smart way to go about a career in any creative industry. Achieve mainstream success doing things that are commercially viable, and when you have people's attention and trust, you can do something more abstract and creative and people will actually go see it with an open mind, and quite possibly love it.

Another example of this is a band like Radiohead, they put out "Creep" which is a perfect radio single, and when that got them famous, they went and made albums that would never have been produced or listened to if they had done them straight away.

This is a cool movie. It's not for everyone. The editing, camera work, framing, pace, screenplay, lighting, production design, wardrobe... all the creative elements of this film have a modern, stylistic feel that seems ahead of it's time. It's the type of movie you may want to tell all your friends is your "favorite" even if it's not, just to make yourself look cool (haha.. sad but true)

The plot is very abstract, and contains a lot of elements of surrealism. Refn reminds me of film-makers like David Lynch or Terry Gilliam or even Salvador Dali. I like that he took a risk and really went with his vision to make a film that could never have mainstream appeal. It is a piece of art, and left open to interpretation. The whole thing may be a dream, or an alternate reality, or some combination of these with real life.

The production design and framing and editing made me feel things and think things and imagine things. It seemed to be trying to take me on a journey through space and time while telling an intoxicating story that was an allusion to the real world.

It helps to be in the right state both mentally and physically for a movie like this. It's the type of movie you want to watch in a very dark room, on a very comfortable couch, with a big screen and a great surround sound system. Then you can prepare to get lost in the film and experience it as a whole, instead of just watching it.

I definitely can't watch movies like this everyday, and while it is a great exercise in expanding your mind, being creative, and thinking abstract thoughts, it may seem boring on the wrong day.

A cool thing about movies like this, is the re-watch-ability of them. Most movies are best the first time you see them, and don't offer much for a repeated viewing. This is the type of movie that can be watched many times. The experience will be different each time and you may notice or realize things you didn't see the first time.

It reminds me of David Lynch and his movie "Mulholland Drive." I really love that movie and it is similar in the way that people love it or hate it. With "Mulholland Drive," I watched it many times, and grew to understand it on my own terms, which was a fun journey.

I do hope that Reft doesn't decide to continue making movies that are always this abstract. Often times, I watch movies with a great plot, that are very entertaining films, but wish the director and cinematographer had been more creative with the lighting and camera work. Seeing his style and eye applied to mainstream blockbusters and thrillers would be really cool in my opinion, but I doubt he will ever go too far into directing movies with a typical "Hollywood" script. After the success of "Mulholland Drive," Lynch continued to make exclusively dreamy, abstract movies, and while I respected that, it just didn't seem necessary.

Go check this movie out with an open mind on a night when you are relaxed and feeling good. Maybe watch it with some friends and have a good conversation afterward sharing thoughts and interpretations; I'm sure they will vary radically. You might love it, and you might hate it, but I think most people will respect the artistry of the film and have trouble forgetting it anytime soon.

Having seen previous films by Nicolas Winding Refn and consider Drive to be a masterpiece, had little expectations for this film. There is certainly some influences within Drive in the Neon Demon but this film is closer to Only God Forgives in terms of quality.

Now his films are certain art house pieces and we can see as to why many people would dislike this film. It is most certainly for an acquired taste and not for everyone.

As the film, well done visuals and the camera angles and set pieces are nice to look at but after a while the story line becomes predictable and cliche. There are some intrigue at first then suddenly flares off a little. There are certainly several bizarre and more disturbing scenes towards the end which stand out.

This film isn't perfect, yet isn't completely awful. It is a step up from OGF but not on the level of Drive.

It could have been great but for some reason the director decided to ruin his own story. Many scenes were visually stunning and the original idea was sound : a young beautiful girl hoping to make it as a model in Hollywood rubs other girls the wrong way.

The gross obsession with beauty is well depicted and at first Fanning's character is likable for she seems sweet and innocent. Until she becomes incredibly cocky. Her confidence in her own good looks leads to her downfall because she forgets that she has absolutely no one to care for her. For all her beauty she still is nobody.

But instead of developing her character and the other models' around her, the director focuses on the gore element which makes the film seem ridiculous.

Sometimes there is a fine line between artistic or original and boring or plain dumb. The director has unfortunately crossed it many times over with this movie even though the casting and the acting were good.

Moody, surreal, obtuse. If you like Nicolas Winding Refn's recent opus such as Valhalla Rising and Drive, you will also like The Neon Demon. In signature Refn fashion, he tiptoes the line between thriller and art-school thesis, this time appropriating the high-gloss sheen and shallowness of the L.A. fashion scene in both subject and structure. It plays like a fever dream. It feels like waking up when the credits roll. It will haunt you for days.

A young model moves to L.A. and is instantly preyed upon by almost everyone she comes into contact with, but some of them might have a very specific and sinister reason why they want to get close to her.

The Neon Demon is a perfect example of style over substance. We know next to nothing about these characters, which makes them feel like nameless fairy tale characters drawn in broad brush strokes. By the time the film gets to the real horror elements of the film, it's almost over and that's a shame. It's still worth a watch just for the pretty images, insane finale, and dreamy synth score.

An absolutely stunningly pretty movie, with no substance. Each shot is poised for elegance and beauty, each interaction with the main character is tense and feels ominous, with a very steady build up ultimately leading to nothing unfortunately. The ending is dissatisfying, given the build up, although it is expected through out the movie as it doesn't really feel like its trying to go anywhere in particular. Sometimes its aiming for psychological thriller, other times horror, other times pure drama. The main characters transformation is strong but doesn't really feel like horror. Missed the mark, but every second is perfect for a cool desktop background