Review of “The Neon Demon”

This may be the shortest movie review I’ve ever written. Thanks to Amazon Prime I was able to stream The Neon Demon. I say “thanks” because even though the movie was a waste of my time (SPOILER ALERT: I HATED this movie!), at least I was able to utilize the fast forward functionality at-home streaming offers.

I chose this movie because:

1. It was classified as horror and mystery, and
2. I like Elle Fanning and Jena Malone, both of whom star in the film.

Here’s the blurb:

When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will use any means necessary to get what she has in this horror thriller from Nicolas Winding Refn.

Elle and Jena both do their jobs fine –given with what they have to work with. Which is a crappy plot. (That actually had potential, but is never quite developed because the concern is all developing evocative imagery.)

Where it went wrong was with all that imagery. O.M.G. Moderation, please. This is one of those times “less is more” got confused. Less artsy and more plot/character development could’ve taken this movie to a whole different level.

Which is to say it could’ve at least given it a shot at being classified as either horror or mystery. The real mystery is why it was classified as horror…unless you count being “horrible” as enough to make it horror.

Because that’s what it was. Awful!

I fast-forwarded through the last hour –and hit myself over the head with the remote that I didn’t think of that sooner. In my defense, I kept hoping it would pick up/speed up and something would start happening.

I guess something did. SPOILER ALERT #2: Jesse ends up getting killed (literally devoured by the three women mentioned in the blurb, none of whom really terrorize her until the very, very end right before they kill her). I’ve never been so happy to see a character who’s supposed to be the heroine die.

I give this one half a skull. Save your time. This movie is not worth it!

Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, as well as obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.

Speaking of healing, to learn how she channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.