An aspiring model, Jesse, is new to Los Angeles. However, her beauty and youth, which generate intense fascination and jealousy within the fashion industry, may prove themselves sinister.An aspiring model, Jesse, is new to Los Angeles. However, her beauty and youth, which generate intense fascination and jealousy within the fashion industry, may prove themselves sinister.An aspiring model, Jesse, is new to Los Angeles. However, her beauty and youth, which generate intense fascination and jealousy within the fashion industry, may prove themselves sinister.
- Director
- Writers
- Nicolas Winding Refn(story by)
- Mary Laws(screenplay by)
- Polly Stenham(screenplay by)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Nicolas Winding Refn(story by)
- Mary Laws(screenplay by)
- Polly Stenham(screenplay by)
- Stars
- Awards
- 19 wins & 40 nominations
Videos10
- Director
- Writers
- Nicolas Winding Refn(story by) (screenplay by)
- Mary Laws(screenplay by)
- Polly Stenham(screenplay by)
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
The sixteen year-old aspiring model Jesse arrives in Los Angeles expecting to be a successful model. The aspirant photographer Dean takes photos for her portfolio and dates her. Jesse befriends the lesbian makeup artist Ruby and then the envious models Gigi and Sarah in a party. Meanwhile, the agency considers Jesse beautiful with a "thing" that makes her different and she is sent to the professional photographer Jack. Jesse attracts the attention of the industry and experiences a successful beginning of her career. Ruby, Gigi and Sarah, however, will do whatever is necessary to get this "thing" for themselves. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Taglines
- The wicked die young
- Genres
- Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated R for disturbing violent content, bloody images, graphic nudity, a scene of aberrant sexuality, and language
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaThe film was shot in chronological order, and the ending was created and improvised on-set, according to Elle Fanning.
- GoofsWhen Jesse locks her motel room door about halfway through the movie, the deadbolt goes from locked to unlocked and back to locked between shots.
- Quotes
Roberto Sarno: Beauty isn't everything. It's the only thing.
- Alternate versionsThe theatrical R-rated version and unrated version are different only in the second morgue scene as follows: (A) Female genital nudity is depicted 1 hour 29 minutes and 0 seconds into the film. In the R rated version (which played in US theaters), when Ruby was kissing the corpse (played by a female actress), the bottom of the frame showed the upper half of the vulva (inclusive of somewhat blurred labia, due to the camera focus on the kissing). In the "unrated" version (NOT the theatrical version or the director's narrative - which both emulate the R rated version seen in US theaters), that same moment depicts VERY clear labial exposure (as in medical clarity, yet artistically depicted). (B) Note that the unrated version also shows Ruby's hand brush along the genitalia as it sweeps up to the left breast (R rated version prolongs the cut-away to the Jessie fantasy shot), and also depicts Ruby bouncing on the corpse as she reaches orgasm (while the R rated version shows only the close up of her face). The foley work and soundtrack during the unrated morgue scene are subtly but noticeably different. In short, the unrated cut sounds a lot more "squishy" with ample "smacking" sounds. The uncut version appears to be available through iTunes only, despite being an Amazon production,which you can find here: https://itunes.apple.com/mt/movie/the-neon-demon/id1129719992 (That means if you want to watch it on a TV you'll need an AppleTV to play it).
- SoundtracksNeon Demon
Composed by Cliff Martinez and Peter G. Adams
Top review
A taut wire of constant predatory threat
There appear to be some who think this is a movie about the fashion industry. If so, it has about as much to say about fashion as "Suspira" has to say about ballet. Really, this film is about obsession, loneliness, fear and the crippling tension of being on constant guard against the attack of predators. Alone and vulnerable in Los Angeles, Jesse (Elle Fanning) is a skittish prey animal surrounded by the dangers of the urban jungle. As she navigates the threats around her, she transforms into a kind of predator herself. But she will soon discover that not all killers hunt alone.
helpful•4010
- aaronadoty
- Nov 17, 2018
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Неоновий демон
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $7,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,333,124
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $589,014
- Jun 26, 2016
- Gross worldwide
- $3,377,430
- Runtime1 hour 57 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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