Neon Demon (2016)
Directed by: Nicolas Winding Refn
What is beauty? Beauty is defined as a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight, or a beautiful woman. Beauty is a multi-million-dollar industry completely based on the emphasis of allure.
When you're 16 the world feels larger at your feet. The endless possibilities etched into your mind with your dreams are an unfathomable canvas. The world feels this way for Jesse who moves to LA to explore her career in modeling. If you know anything about this career it's quite the challenge! There's the busyness of trying to build your portfolio, find an agent, and well try to make it! It's not easy but for Jesse this seems fortuitous.
Upon arrival, she seems to have the "it" factor. There's something about her that the industry finds indescribably there. Maybe it's because she is someone new, a blank canvas so to speak. Ready to be transformed into the next big thing! It isn't all glitz and glamour for Jesse she soon finds out there are wolves in the fold. Unlike the fairy tales you read these wolves are in utmost high fashion. They are primped and propped to hold the onlooker’s attention. You better believe they are not ready to hand over their crowns so easily. Jesse soon finds out it's every starlet for their selves and there are lines that aren't meant to be crossed. However, it doesn't mean others won't cross them to hold all the cards at play. Will Jesse make her claim to fame or will she hit the pits...tune in and find out!
In Refn's 2016 film Neon Demon he visually captures the allure of using Neo-noir backgrounds. Which allows each frame to move fluidly like art. The casting hits the nerve as the cinematography does. At center and not easily hidden are the themes of jealousy and high stakes glamour. Who will hold her crown? Trust me, who does will not care what boundaries she has to cross to keep the attention on them.
This film is visually engaging but it takes one dark deep tour that I didn't expect. It plummets down the visual malign quickly. Just like a centerfold you can't look away. It comes up rather unexpectedly. There is no looking back once you reached this place. From this point on you see what has earned this film it's spot in the horror genre. It is ostentatious. Not hiding the dark fashion and cruel bitterness the world of beauty holds. What is the grand take away for me?
I enjoyed the surreal ambiance this film held. I also liked the bold vibrant schemes. I take away that Refn is not unafraid to carry a point across. In a world where beauty is at the center there are people ready to snatch your dreams from your fingertips, no matter the cost! This was one film I couldn't remember I watched and I feel it's from the cruel visuals of jealousy is impenitent. How cruel Jealousy is and Envy! If Sarah and Gigi have a name it's Jealousy and Envy. Ruby is the fair-weather friend whom has you fooled to be there for you. It's only again, after further watching, you realize she really isn't there for anyone but herself. Maybe she had other intentions previously until there was no turning back and rejection is as malicious as jealousy. There's a true loneliness these women hold and, in a world, where only the fittest or "fairest" survive there is no time for remorse. It's a transcendence even I can't comprehend.
Man, what a film... I hate to rate it. I feel the message could be lost. The message can loosely be interpreted. If you can get beyond the grand climax...maybe you might find something less disturbing than I did.
8/10
Comments