Startling, exquisite and visually flawless.
The Neon Demon centres on ravishing young Jesse, a waif-like aspiring model fresh to the meat factory of the LA fashion world – which she immediately sets ablaze, leaving breathless desire and snarling jealousy in her wake.
The only word that can aptly describe this film is psychedelic. It’s visually prefect, strobing, odd colours and total white or blackness contribute to one of the most brace and stunning lighting designs I’ve ever seen. Elle Fanning is brilliant and innocent, her purity is what makes the character likeable. Jenna Malone is psychotic and perfect, her best performance yet. Karl Glusman, Keanu Reeves, Christine Hendricks, Abbey Lee and Bella Heathcote make up the rest of the brilliant cast.
Nicolas Winding Refn hasn’t missed anything in this film, all the elements have been brought together superbly. I’m running out of positive adjectives to describe how good this movie was - there are very few things to critique here. While it didn’t do well overseas I can’t fathom how fans of surreal films wouldn’t enjoy this. The music, cinematography and script round of this fantastic film.
One of the best things about this film, is no matter how unusual it offers social comment on the modelling industry and plastic surgery and is sure to be a discussion starter.
Overall, utterly insane, but simultaneously beautiful, crazy, psychedelic and mad, all the while it offers a concerning social commentary. One to avoid, however if graphic, disturbing imagery and necrophilia bothers you.
4.5 Stars
Review by Benjamin Maio Mackay
Screening courtesy of Palace Nova Cinemas
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