Film Preview: The Neon Demon (2016)

Page Revisions:

(April 17, 2016) Original
(June 5, 2016) New Trailer (#1) / New Posters (#1-#3)
(June 19, 2016) New Poster (#4) / Updated Release Date (changed from “June 2016”)

Release Date:

June 24, 2016

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has.”

Poster Rating: C- / C / B / C+

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Review: (#1) This static and visually unexciting design doesn’t linger in the imagination or heart for very long. (#2) An interesting take on the design that may have touches of symbolic relevance, but most viewers aren’t going to get it. (#3) This better complements the film’s esoteric and twisted style. It’s visually fresh and fascinating, but feels a shadow hollow.

(#4) More neon, less demon. The title certainly gets its evocation, but there’s a lack of rich substance in this design making it forgettable.

Trailer Rating: A- / A

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Review: (#1) I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for a trailer that goes out of its way to set up some rather fascinating artistic elements. This film looks like a visual marvel, a film of exceptional creative craft. That alone will give it an in with cineastes and those who are fans of Nicolas Winding Refn’s prior work.

(#2) Take what made the first trailer so engaging and add a pulsing, twisted musical accompaniment and you have a film that looks entirely daft, but engagingly so.

Oscar Prospects:

I have serious doubts that it can be an awards player, but critics might give it a boost, especially in the design categories. Elle Fanning finally scoring an Oscar nomination would be a nice surprise.