The Neon Demon

Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn moved from fanboy obscurity to mainstream recognition with 2011's Drive, but stumbled badly with 2013's noxious Only God Forgives. Refn continues his downward trajectory with this gaudily grotesque tale centered on the Los Angeles fashion scene, serving up an extraordinarily stylish but also vacuous film that carries a streak of grim humor but seems more interested in cinematic exhibitionism. The story—threadbare, despite the extravagant costumes and settings—focuses on Jesse (Elle Fanning), a pretty but naïve 16-year-old who arrives in L.A. with hopes of launching a modeling career. Taking a room in a crummy motel that is presided over by a sleazy manager (Keanu Reeves), Jesse begins making the rounds, helped by Dean (Karl Glusman), a bland, decent young man who becomes her puppy-like protector. Incredibly, Jesse finds swift success, along the way catching the eye of makeup artist Ruby (Jenna Malone)—who moonlights at sprucing up corpses in the morgue—a woman who may have designs on Jesse beyond simple friendship. Jesse also engenders murderous envy in her main competitors, who find themselves shunted to the side. In a gruesome sequence that will be tough for many viewers to stomach, Refn depicts modeling as a literally dog-eat-dog business. While the emptiness at the missing heart of The Neon Demon might be intended as a commentary on the fashion industry's lack of substance, that doesn't make the film any more intellectually stimulating—or enjoyable. Not recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Nicholas Winding Refn and star Elle Fanning, a soundtrack featurette (5 min.), and a brief segment on the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing film.] (F. Swietek)