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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  Movie, Television and DVD Reviews  /  The Neon Demon
Posted by: Penoyer79, September 11th, 2017, 6:06pm
Um, WTF did I just watch?  

Looked like perverted, self indulgent tripe to me.

The movie wants to be some deep artsy film about the beauty vampires of the model industry... but it just came off to me as a filmmaker beating off to his own filmmaking.

yeah the cinematography is great... the acting is fine? i guess?

but seriously?

someone else want to chime in here?


Posted by: Demento, September 11th, 2017, 6:55pm; Reply: 1
I like Nicolas Winding Refn movies. I've seen all of them.

I would put this one in the pile of his movies I didn't like along with Bronson and Fear X.

It had some style. Didn't find much more than that in it. I wouldn't recommend it. But it's nice to look at and tries to get some atmosphere going. Refn is skilled at that.
Posted by: DustinBowcot (Guest), September 12th, 2017, 1:13am; Reply: 2
It was something different, but I didn't enjoy the experience.
Posted by: James McClung, September 12th, 2017, 3:55pm; Reply: 3

Quoted from Penoyer79
The movie wants to be some deep artsy film about the beauty vampires of the model industry... but it just came off to me as a filmmaker beating off to his own filmmaking.


I'd actually amend this to say the movie wants to be a filmmaker beating off to his own filmmaking. Even the plot reflects that in its own sort of clunky way. I don't think Refn has any bones about being blatantly indulgent or reveling in certain images and content for their own sake. I appreciate that approach, even though it doesn't always pay off (case could be made that it rarely does).

Just thinking out loud here though more than anything, not necessarily making a defense for the film. It's goofy as fuck, and while I enjoyed it, I've barely thought about it since it came out. A friend of mine went to a screening with Refn and Reeves and suggested to me essentially that Reeves take on the film was much more appealing whereas half of what Refn said only made sense to him and left the audience confused (an audience of his own fans no less). Dude is a loon... but I love him. Refreshing to see a filmmaker with practically no self-consciousness and a genuine wild card during a time where so many films feel like the same shit.

But no. Not the greatest film for sure. I can totally understand the disconnect.
Posted by: ReaperCreeper, October 2nd, 2017, 3:16pm; Reply: 4
I liked it. I didn't know where it was going half the time, which I actually appreciated. It's nice not being able to predict a film beat-by-beat, which has become too easy to do with recent releases IMO, especially in this genre. But yes, I did find it a little self-indulgent. Not that I minded though, since the cinematography was amazing. :)

-Julio
Posted by: AnthonyCawood, October 3rd, 2017, 2:11pm; Reply: 5
I thought I'd commented on this ages ago... I'm clearly getting old!

IMHO Refn makes movies within the mainstream that are anything but mainstream, I applaud his intentions even if it doesn't always work (Only God Forgives).

Specifically on Neon Demon... loved it, had a sort of seedy 70s feeling to it mixed with an arthouse aesthetic and manages to cover some interesting themes to boot.

And as a horror/cult movie buff I find it difficult not to be impressed by a Hollywood movie that manages to showcase both necrophilia AND cannibalism.

He's one of the few current directors that I pay attention to in terms of what's coming next.
Posted by: Warren, October 11th, 2017, 6:57pm; Reply: 6
Watched this last night, yikes. What a load of trash.

Pretty sure I fell asleep at one point then skipped to the "gory bits".

Nothing good about this at all, don’t waste your time. How on earth do these get funded, who reads this script and goes "wow, you’ve really got something great here", WTF!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: DustinBowcot (Guest), October 12th, 2017, 1:52am; Reply: 7

Quoted from Warren
Watched this last night, yikes. What a load of trash.

Pretty sure I fell asleep at one point then skipped to the "gory bits".

Nothing good about this at all, don’t waste your time. How on earth do these get funded, who reads this script and goes "wow, you’ve really got something great here", WTF!!!!!!!!!!!


Chances are the writer came after funding was obtained. Often, the idea sells first. They may even have some cast. Once the script is written, the director either destroys it or turns it into a masterpiece. Unless the very idea was shite to begin with, of course.
Posted by: Colkurtz8, March 26th, 2018, 9:08am; Reply: 8
I'm clearly in the minority here, I found it an exhilarating experience, as indulgent and perverted as the milieu it depicts. What an ending.

Elle Fanning is a serious talent. Where's Dakota at these days?

Refn's best since Bronson I reckon.
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