I don’t think that you are ready for “The Neon Demon.” This bizarre horror film pushes the boundaries of visual discomfort to the limit, all under the guise of the Los Angeles modeling scene. The intensity and energy of each still frame creates a unique viewing experience wherein each scene’s main image expresses the intention of the characters more than the dialogue or action. It reads kind of like a comic book, only in this case it is a bizarre fashion magazine. The story begins with a young, innocent teen who aspires to become a model in Los Angeles. Her interactions with established models reveal the themes of vanity, ageism, jealousy, and how commercialism can devour a person. The casting is perfect, pitting the innocent-looking Elle Fanning against the cosmetic looks of Bella Heathcote and Abbey Lee. They are contrasted by Jena Malone, a makeup artist who doesn’t aspire to be beautiful because she is fascinated by the beauty of others. Again, the visual palette of director Nicolas Winding Refn practically tells the story without the need for acting. A few male characters are included in the film but they are intentionally static so that the focus remains on the women’s pursuit of beauty in different ways. The content grows more disturbing as the film progresses, first with odd arthouse imagery that grows weirder as the characters transform. Everything continues to escalate into some of the most disturbing imagery that I have ever seen, reaching its boiling point for the last 10 minutes of the film. “The Neon Demon” is an allegory about beauty and commercialism, but the extremism used to express the film’s themes creates a shocking and brash experience that will burn the symbolism into your soul forever.
[Pictured: There will be many moments where you'll want to bail out of this stylized surrealist journey, but you have to stick around to see what happens at the end.]
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