The Neon Demon

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The Neon Demon

R

2016

1h 57m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

59%

Tomatometer

263 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Jesse (Elle Fanning) moves to Los Angeles just after her 16th birthday to launch a career as a model. The head of her agency tells the innocent teen that she has the qualities to become a top star. Jesse soon faces the wrath of ruthless vixens who despise her fresh-faced beauty. On top of that, she must contend with a seedy motel manager and a creepy photographer. As Jesse starts to take the fashion world by storm, her personality changes in ways that could help her against her cutthroat rivals.

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Critics Consensus

The Neon Demon is seductively stylish, but Nicolas Winding Refn's assured eye can't quite compensate for an underdeveloped plot and thinly written characters.

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K. Austin Collins

The Ringer

08/10/2017

The Neon Demon is Refn's best movie, or at least the one that best matches his style to his subject.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

03/21/2017

D

The photograph is stunning. But the story is a hot mess.

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Adam Nayman

Cineaste Magazine

11/08/2016

That everything is intended in bad taste is one thing; that it's all finally more bland than bitter is another.

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Lexi Amoriello

Movie Recs by Lex

Jul 10

Whether viewers are captivated by the film or enraged by it, Refn has succeeded in everything he sought out to accomplish with The Neon Demon.

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Atreyo Palit

Loud and Clear Reviews

Jul 9

4.5/5

With haunting imagery, The Neon Demon meticulously critiques an industry that seems to run on the philosophy that "True beauty is the highest currency we have."

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Sydney Lee

Horror Movie Talk

Dec 4

10/10

This film is gorgeous, and the message it conveys is something that women can all understand and relate to, regardless if you’re a model or not. It’s a deep dive on beauty standards and the predatory nature of society towards women...

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Anthony F

@BokehMonster Jul 24

I dug it. Neon Demon immediately sets a vivid mood of the seductive power of raw beauty and the creatures who feed off of it. I loved the pace of the story, most of the casting/acting (sorry Keanu, not a good role for *anyone*), and each scene seemed to have a very strong direction that was self contained, well executed, and stylish -- sometimes at the cost of making the story feel choppy. And then of course, the whole story falls off the rails and it's never going to be called a great movie, but absolutely worth a watch if you like NWR's other work or stylish genere films in general.

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steven A

@steve395 Apr 3

one of the worst scripts and convoluted films of all times. the only positive was the cinematography. why would anyone finance this and why would Fanning appear in it?

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Buddy W

@BuddyW Feb 8

I like crap, but man this thing sucked. I can appreciate art-house movies (look at my review for Jack Be Nimble), but (insert curse word) did this movie suck. And the ending defies head scratching stupidity. I was actually angry that I'd wasted my time watching it.

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Inese K

@lizzygliz Jan 26

I've never hated a movie so much that it made me angry and create an account to warn people. Absolutely awful. I love artsy films- strange, make you think, etc. However, this was just pure nonsense. Limp, nonsensical 'plot', strange, uneasy and unfitting music and weak acting. I really wish I could get back these 2 hours of my life. Its left me angry and just sad.

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Roberto R

@roby500 Jan 14

Terrible acting. The movie is pure nonsense. Waste of your time.

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Tandy R.

@grandmaof22 Jan 1

Boring, weird, predictable and honestly gross.

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Synopsis

Jesse (Elle Fanning) moves to Los Angeles just after her 16th birthday to launch a career as a model. The head of her agency tells the innocent teen that she has the qualities to become a top star. Jesse soon faces the wrath of ruthless vixens who despise her fresh-faced beauty. On top of that, she must contend with a seedy motel manager and a creepy photographer. As Jesse starts to take the fashion world by storm, her personality changes in ways that could help her against her cutthroat rivals.

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Producer: Lene Børglum, Sidonie Dumas, Vincent Maraval, Nicolas Winding Refn
Screenwriter: Nicolas Winding Refn, Mary Laws, Polly Stenham
Distributor: Amazon Studios, Broad Green Pictures
Production Co: Space Rocket Nation, Gaumont, Wild Bunch, Bold Films, Vendian Entertainment
Rating: R (Bloody Images|A Scene of Aberrant Sexuality|Disturbing Violent Content|Graphic Nudity|Language)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 24, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.3M
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Datasat, SDDS, Dolby Digital