Nicolas Winding Refn - the director behind films like Bronson, Drive, and Only God Forgives - is now bringing his unique vision to the horror genre. The Neon Demon tells the harrowing story of an aspiring model (Elle Fanning) who moves to Los Angeles, only to discover that the City of Angels is anything but angelic.
“Do you know what my mother used to call me?” Fanning's voiceover asks. “'Dangerous'. She was right. I am dangerous.” With that ominous warning, the film's first trailer bursts into rapid-fire hints of what's to come: superficiality, sex, violence, a sparse electronic soundtrack, and NWR's lush, frenetic visuals.
In discussing the origins of the film, Refn said, “One morning I woke and realized I was both surrounded and dominated by women. Strangely, a sudden urge was planted in me to make a horror film about vicious beauty. After making Drive and falling madly in love with the electricity of Los Angeles, I knew I had to return to tell the story of The Neon Demon. This movie is a manifestation of the strong ties between us and will lead to many more adventures.”
The Neon Demon co-stars Abbey Lee Kershaw, Christina Hendricks, Jena Malone, Keanu Reeves, and Bella Heathcote. Look for it in cinemas later this year after it competes for the Palme d'Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.