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.
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.Written by
Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
One of the film's most striking features is its use of color. In an interview, director Nicolas Winding Refn stated that he is in fact color blind, and can only perceive contrast and primary colors. See more »
Goofs
When Dean comes to see Jesse at the motel and hands her the roses, Jesse reaches out and grabs them with her left hand but when she faints, the roses appear in her right hand. See more »
Quotes
Jesse:
When I was a kid, I would sneak out to the roof at night; I thought the moon looked like a big round eye. And I would look up and I'd say, "Do you see me?". Ya know, I'd stay out there for hours. Sometimes I'd fall asleep, just dreaming.
Dean:
About what?
Jesse:
What I would be.
Dean:
What was that?
Jesse:
I could never figure it out.
See more »
Alternate Versions
The 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). See more »
They say film is a visual medium and that's true, but many people also forget that these visual stories need to be populated by interesting characters and well written scenes. The script of The Neon Demon is a total afterthought and it's all about the visuals. It works better in some scenes than it does in others, but it's always a film where you can't take your eyes off the screen. It's almost hypnotic that way with its brightly colored lighting, sets, and dreamy electronic score. It's not a movie that has a lot to say, but it's still a film worth experiencing.
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They say film is a visual medium and that's true, but many people also forget that these visual stories need to be populated by interesting characters and well written scenes. The script of The Neon Demon is a total afterthought and it's all about the visuals. It works better in some scenes than it does in others, but it's always a film where you can't take your eyes off the screen. It's almost hypnotic that way with its brightly colored lighting, sets, and dreamy electronic score. It's not a movie that has a lot to say, but it's still a film worth experiencing.