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
There are various references to the work of Stanley Kubrick throughout the film. One of the models mentions a lipstick shade, "Red Rum" (The Shining (1980)), Keanu Reeves' character compares the girl in 214 to Lolita, and several pivotal scenes occur in and around bathrooms, Kubrick's trademark. See more »
Goofs
When Jessie kisses herself in the mirror during her modeling scene, the mirror on her right is already stained with lipstick before she touches it with her lips, in the next shot as she goes to kiss the mirror on her left the lipstick stains on the right are suddenly gone. See more »
Quotes
Jesse:
[after the shoot]
You're still here?
Ruby:
How did it go?
Jesse:
It went good. It was great actually.
Ruby:
Did he say anything?
Jesse:
My agency said if the pictures turned out good, he might consider them for an editorial. Do you think he would?
Ruby:
[shakes her head]
I think he makes a lot of promises to young girls.
[nods]
Jesse:
[looks down, then up again]
I should go, before my meter runs out.
Ruby:
I don't think you should be alone with him.
[shakes her head]
[...] 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 »
This film is one best looking films of that decade. The cast works very well in the context of the story that starts of very simple and realistic but then escalates to a rather metaphorical hard to gasp ending that might let down some viewers.
Rating: B
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This film is one best looking films of that decade. The cast works very well in the context of the story that starts of very simple and realistic but then escalates to a rather metaphorical hard to gasp ending that might let down some viewers.
Rating: B