By Michael Kalafatis (Stoke on Trent)
Sarah asks Jesse, “What’s it feel like, to walk into a room, and it’s like in the middle of winter, you’re the sun?” Jesse replies, “It’s everything”.
Directed by Nicholas Winding Refn Starring Elle Fanning, Jena Malone, Karl Glusman, Christina Hendricks and Keanu Reeves. Jesse (Elle Fanning) an aspiring 16-year-old model moves to Los Angeles and with a help of an amateur photographer who takes her first photoshoot called Dean (Karl Glusman) manages to come across Ruby, a make-up artist who introduce her to the world of modelling but also to her two rival models Gigi (Bella Heathcote) and Sarah (Abbey Lee). The modelling world is the focal point of Neon Demon and beauty either manufactured or real is its main theme.
After just living for few days in Los Angeles Jesse manages to get signed in a modelling agency by Roberta (Christina Hendricks) which leads her to a meteoritic rise to the modelling world to the dismay of Gigi and Sarah. Gigi and Sarah are both experienced models who have done countless plastic surgeries that at one point Gigi admits with a complacent grin that her plastic surgeon calls her “the bionic woman”. When Jesse asks Gigi, “You had work done?” she answers, “You say that like it’s a bad thing. Sweet, plastic is just good grooming. Imagine going a year without brushing your teeth”. Jesse youth and beauty is the features that makes her stand out from the other models but they are also the things that bring turmoil in her life as she lacks any artificial quality which is a hard attribute to find in a model.
Nicholas Winding Refn’s Neon Demon is a blend of David Lynch, Mario Bava and Dario Argento especially in its third act when surrealism collides with horror/slasher elements and leaves us breathless and disturbed with the abundance of blood and gruesome scenes. Neon Demon’s cinematography has vibrant and lush colours and meticulous composition which is overflowing with symbolism as the film nears its end and the menacing and ambient score by Cliff Martinez creates tension and the lurking of concealed danger that hovers above Jesse all throughout the film, the best example of this danger is perfectly demonstrated in one sequence: when Jesse returns to her room, before opening the door she hears a strange noise, so she thinks that an intruder has manage to enter her room, so she calls the manager (Keanu Reeves) who comes to her aid and discover that a cougar has enter her room and he blames her for the damages, this sequence conveys the horror of the unknown entity in the room and the unfairness that Jesse faces after the cougar has ransacked her room and she has to pay for the damages but it is mostly about the unseen danger that envelops Jesse from the moment she decided to move Los Angeles.
Like most films by Nicholas Winding Refn Neon Demon is also a very divisive film, as it features gruesome scenes, surrealistic moments that are hard to decipher and a slow pace that will manage to irritate viewers who are not used to Refn’s cinematic style. To enjoy Neon Demon is to understand that it is a very experimental film, that it does not follow a very linear narrative but as it progresses it becomes more symbolic and visually more rich and violent with a very resonant depiction of real or manufactured beauty.
Rating: 4/5
BEST QUOTES
Nicholas Winding Refn remains one of the few directors today who just films whatever he wishes. For me, his film catalogue consists of some great films and some particularly bad films. The Neon Demon comes somewhere in between – either way it is an improvement from Only God Forgives (2013). With all this in mind Refn still does not achieve the greatness he had with Drive (2011), as audience we are once again left patiently waiting.
The Neon Demon follows Jesse (Elle Fanning) pursing fame and fortune in the modelling industry. Jesse is young, naïve, and most of all, naturally beautiful. It’s only when she finds herself among many other female predators (Jenna Malone, Abbey Lee, and Bella Heathcote) that envy, lust, and tragedy sets in. Somewhere Keanu Reeves is also present in this film (much to my confusion) portraying Hank – a motel owner. On paper the films plot seems straightforward, however, the film is layered with many symbols and metaphors under a canvas of stunning Refn-style-cinematography. When further explored, it becomes apparent that Refn wants to experience something more – we have to sure under the artsy cracks for answers. Is this film making a statement about the fashion/modelling industry? Is this film supernatural in a way? Is this simply a thriller or something more? Who knows…
Moving onto the cinematography you can expect to see all of Refn’s typical traits. Vibrant colours, glossy finishes, and of course, glorified gore. I would be lying if I said that it wasn’t visually pleasing, but at the same time I just couldn’t help myself from thinking that the all the other elements in this film just weren’t raising the same bar as these beautiful shots. The runway scene especially is one the for the casual LSD user – it’s psychedelic and symbolic. Refn forces you to look deeper into his colour scheme. We see Jesse in a blue tint reflective of her success, only then to transition into red which can only but hint at a dark end. This is all well and good, however, for the casual film-goer they won’t appreciate these moments. The films score is actually very fitting. With every notable scene Cliff Martinez provides the perfect sound to capture the moment.
If someone was to ask me what I will remember from The Neon Demon, it is the final act. In one word it is mad. What Refn wants to achieve in this film is shock value. The contrast in tone from the opening acts to the final moments are huge. It’s suddenly dark, disturbing, and utterly disgusting. As an audience we are left sitting there wondering what we have just experienced. In a way this is a victory for Refn. He wants viewers to wonder and ponder at the possible yet not probable explanations for the final sequences. It may all just be a ploy to add re-watch value. However, in a nutshell The Neon Demon is a very experimental thriller for which some people may get very little from. Others may receive a great deal.
Rating: 3/5