‎The Neon Demon (2016) directed by Nicolas Winding Refn • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

The Neon Demon

2016 Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn

Beauty is vicious.

When aspiring model Jesse 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.

Elle Fanning Jena Malone Karl Glusman Abbey Lee Bella Heathcote Keanu Reeves Desmond Harrington Alessandro Nivola Christina Hendricks Charles Baker Jamie Clayton Rebecca Dayan Taylor Marie Hill Stacey Danger Vanessa Martinez Cody Renee Cameron

117 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Serafina ★ 504

I wasn’t going to write another review of this film purely on principle, but given the astounding and baffling response to my previous (and admittedly: brief) write-up, I feel I might as well reply to the male outrage and their combative, redundant criticisms.

Despite what many commentators seem to think, I do actually understand that people might see The Neon Demon as NWR’s critique of the fashion industry (or society in general) and the way it exploits women. However, I personally do not believe that it is effective in that pursuit.

A collection of aesthetically-pleasing visual symbols set to neon lighting and an edgy, hypnotic score which are displayed without discernible weight or impact does not automatically convey a powerful…
Review by Eli Hayes ★★★★½ 33

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

K, time for an actual capsule review:
The Neon Demon is an effective, albeit deeply disturbing commentary on physical artificiality and the social construction of beauty as the chief significance in not only the entertainment and fashion industries, but in life, relationships, everything. Needless to say, it's not for the faint of heart; prepare for the utilization of cannibalism and necrophilia as metaphor. Yeah.
Review by Evan ★★★★★ 37

The Neon Demon is a lot of things. Transcendent, hypnotic, and stylish are a few words that come to mind. This film had me hooked from the beginning credit sequence and it never let me go. I'm still kind of in a daze to be honest. Every frame of The Neon Demon is executed to absolute perfection. I cannot give the visuals enough praise. Honestly this is one of the best looking films I have ever seen. It's a five-course meal for the eyes. Also, the soundtrack/score is incredible. I RARELY buy a film's soundtrack and when I say rarely I mean never but I have already purchased the soundtrack from Amazon. Elle Fanning and Jenna Malone were both fantastic.…
Review by Arielrocks5 ★★ 103

My biggest issue with "The Neon Demon" is that it's too obvious with what types of themes and ideas it's presenting.

I get that the acting from each of the characters/acting is supposed to be stiff and lifeless because that's how we present models in the world of fashion.

I get that the reason why the film feels so shallow and empty is because of those exact same reasons and a lot of the pretty imagery is mostly in false to paint an empty fantasy of LA.

I get all of it.

You know why I picked up on these themes so easily? Because the movie practically SCREAMS these into your ear drums with a god damn mega phone. Each…
Review by Serafina ★ 262

A prime example of why men should not be allowed to make films about women and/or the experience of being a woman. I knew going into this that I would hate it, but it far surpassed hatred and ventured into the realm of vehement disdain and disgust.

Most of the scathing reviews I've encountered on letterboxd have adamantly addressed the problematic nature of this film so I won't bother to waste any more of my time; but suffice to say, The Neon Demon further solidifies my aversion to everything that Nicolas Winding Refn creates. His affinity for vapidity and "style over substance" is not as intriguing as he seems to think. The fact he actually dedicated this film to his…
Review by Eli Hayes ★★★★½ 46

booooooooooooo
what a terrible film
booooooooooooo
all style, no substance
booooooooooooo
it's not social commentary;
it's misogyny
booooooooooooo
brb gonna go scream
at the screen some more
booooooooooooo
god won't forgive this one, Refn
booooooooooooo

(far cry from your previous films, Elle... shit escalated quickly for ya. also, Cliff composed what is probably one of the best scores since the likes of Goblin)

booooooooooooo

Recent reviews

Review by Luuk Hermsen ★★

Just not the horror film for me.

The cinematography and sound were amazing in this film but other than that I didn't really enjoy it. The plot was pretty mediocre and the acting felt a bit off.
Review by Nicole ★★

I am pretty sure everything that there was to be said about this movie has been said but the movie really is style over substance. The cinematography is STUNNING, the soundtrack is also pretty good but everything else? trash. The dialogue is unrealistic, the characters - boring and the plot... what is the message of this movie again? Yeah this movie IS pretty but that's about it.
Review by xavier ★★★★

the painful truth and horrors of the modelling industry crafted beautifully in moving picture with means of suspense and metaphorical scenes summed up with elle fanning's grandeur is just magnificent.
Review by black_gallego ½

Mira, no sólo es una absoluta nadería pretenciosa, es que te da absolutamente igual TODO lo que pasa en pantalla, incluido la estética de brilli-brilli que parece que es lo único que le importa hacer al flipao este. Los anuncios de perfume no se merecen ser comparados con esto.
Review by hannah ★★½

I SCREAMED
Review by Jeffrey Atwood ★★★★★

How could I not rate this below a perfect score? Probably because The Neon Demon is perfect. I’ll always remember seeing this for the first time, and feeling absolutely disgusted yet in love with this all the way through; only the best art can do that.

The way fashion models in this film are shot to look like outer shells of human beings/aliens rather than actual human beings is out of this world crazy.

Light pink and dark purple submerged, bass-throbbing, blood-soaked insanity.
Review by Miles Sleeps Sundays ★ 1

You know how some DVDs have an option where you can play the film with just the soundtrack and score, no dialogue or sound effects? If there was a release of Neon Demon that was like that but also the characters were digitally removed from every scene so you were just left with the sets and lighting and cinematography - that would be a really enjoyable experience.

As is though: Absolutely not.
Review by AtomManhattan ★★

I was kind of into this at first...
It has a really great score that feels like a late 70s sci-fi film, and some slick cinematorgaphy...but as for the story...
Let's just say there was one scene towards the end that polarized my feelings about it and I left feeling regretful for having watched it.
2☆ for score/visuals/several perfomances.
Review by Janic3 L33 ½

To sum up this 2 hour music video with excessive lens flare is already a compliment to this 1 dimensional yawn fest