Neon Demon

2016's "Neon Demon", by Nicholas Winding Refn (or NWR apparently).
Starring Elle Fanning, Jena Malone, Christina Hendricks, and a fascinatingly adequate Keanu Reeves. 

"Neon Demon" features a plot as simple as it comes: a young high school drop out moves to Los Angeles, attempting to become a model in the fashion industry. The bare bones story is a great place for the typically style packed NWR to showcase his love for laconic scenes of carefully arranged composition, punishingly vibrant colours, and pulsating synth scores (by the dependable Cliff Martinez). Taking more than just a page out of David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive", this is a horror movie, with appearances from red rum, vampires, and cannibalism to serve as metaphors for how Los Angeles and the entertainment biz like to eat up young and naive talent before spitting it back up. 

I've had my concerns of a lot more sizzle than steak when it comes to NWR ("Bronson", “Valhalla Rising”, "Drive", and "Only God Forgives" all being minimalist snapshots of their respective genre). NWR has clearly been influenced by legendary director Stanley Kubrick's love of dreamlike imagery and cold composition. However NWR lacks Kubrick's intellectual prowess, as Kubrick's ideas were often revelatory and profound. With this in mind, NWR's depiction of the fashion industry prove a perfect foil for the Danish auteur, as we float along various photo shoots and empty conversations. Robbed of an Oscar nomination for best cinematography, "Neon Demon" has some exquisitely delicious images that serve as empty calories for this cinema junkie.

3/5

Trailer: Click Here.