Dir. Nicholas Winding Refn | Now Streaming On: Prime | Rating: 2/5

The Neon Demon had been on my watchlist for a long time and I finally sat down to watch it with my mom over the holiday break. Though stunning to look at and decently acted, this story was all over the show and oozed with the male gaze.⁠
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Through the story of the innocent and beautiful Jesse, this film attempts to comment on the cutthroat nature of making it in show business and the horrors of being a young woman in a man’s world. I know that the point of this film is for us to feel the horror of the risky situations Jesse finds herself in, to feel shocked at her naivety and the willingness of others to use her, but this all feels hollow. With no focus or window to how Jesse truly feels, and instead a focus on her “fall from grace,” this story lacks the tenderness it needs to capture the layered fears of the female experience. ⁠
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And maybe that’s the point? Maybe the point of this is to come away feeling like Jesse isn’t special at all, but just one of millions of young women, brutalized and tormented by people who have the power to do so. Even in writing this, that interpretation feels generous, since there is a continued tone of sexual and physical violence towards young women, with even references made to the classic Lolita, that ultimately didn’t sit right with me. ⁠
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The climax stumbles to a lackluster finish by haphazardly explaining away the whole story with a jab at the occult. The out of place symbolism feels Lynchian in a way but ultimately doesn’t stick its landing. (I can hear the film bois now – “The mountain lion randomly in the motel room is a metaphor, you know?”) ⁠
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To be frank, I feel like this film was a neon sign saying: “Look at these women, am I right? They’re so narcissistic and stupid.” Maybe I’m not giving The Neon Demon enough of a chance, but I wasn’t entertained or wowed by what this brought to the table. ⁠
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Know Before You Watch: Features death, blood, flashing lights, rape, nudity, gore.