Filmology Rating: 2.38 out of 4

The Neon Demon is about a young girl named Jesse that starts a modeling career at the age of 16. She is contracted by a company that says she will be great. Well she really is great and she starts to take the fashion industry by storm and soon creates enemies and also starts to lose herself. What was once an innocent girl has now become obsessed with vain ideas and goals.

For those of you who don’t know director and writer Nicolas Winding Refn, just know that he is not for everyone. 2011 Drive staring Ryan Gosling is probably his most famous and user friendly film and that is not for everyone. What Refn does is immerse you in a world of cinematography and visual stimulus that is beyond words sometimes. Say what you want about his films but this man does now how to create a scene. Each frame feels directed and carefully chosen to give a message. He uses lights or the lack of, the use of objects or the use of space, and brilliant camera angles to all create an artistic scene.

Cinematically I could not get enough of this film and the music paired perfectly as well. I will be for sure getting the sound track.
Sound great? Well there is a catch… He is very dark and has a disturbing tone in his films. This is no different. The first half of The Neon Demon was a dark film but still very normal and mainstream and then it just takes a turn down on what the f**k am I watching lane….. There really is no other way to say it. Refn could have easily made this more toned down and it could have been received a lot better than it is right now by critics and audiences but that’s not who he is. His driving goal is making art and sending a strong message and if that offends people then that’s their issue.

The acting was brilliant. Elle Fanning and Jenna Malone were outstanding as the two main characters. They each were brilliant in their own way. You really see a deep character progression from Elle Fanning’s character Jesse. Such innocence that soon is corrupted and taken over by vain ideas of beauty being everything. This is Refn’s jab at modern day standards. Beauty seems to be everything and the extents to which people will try and attain those standards are insane. You will see both of these characters change throughout the film in ways that are haunting. I was really interested to see where the film was taking these girls and when it got there I was just speechless. The plot and the writing were really engaging and never really lets you go. It has such a unique tone that you can’t help but want to keep watch to see what happens.

Now this film does go too far i think... It could have easily shaved off the final 10 min or so of the film and left the same impact. There are some images from those final 10 min that I don't think I'll ever be able to forget.Please be warned that if you get offended easily and don’t have a stomach for gruesome events, then DO NOT go see this movie. The Neon Demon is made for film junkies who really admire brilliant directing, acting, writing, cinematography, camera usage, and everything in the artistic sense. This film is not for the viewer who just wants to be entertained. You’ve been warned!

Rating: See It 

-Nick