The Neon Demon: New Trailer Makes A Stylish Entrance
On the day it was announced as being in competition at this year’s Cannes film festival, the first teaser trailer for Nicolas Winding Refn’s characteristically stylish The Neon Demon makes a suitably boldentrance.
The Danish filmmaker, known best for his collaborations with Ryan Gosling, Drive and God Only Forgives, swaps out his regular co-conspirator for Elle Fanning (Maleficent). In The Neon Demon, Fanning stars as Jesse,an aspiring model who moves to Los Angeles to make it in the cut-throatindustry. But unlike her competitors (“small-town girls”), she seems to stand a
chance. “Some girls crack under the pressure,” Christine Hendricks, playing
what appears to be a talent scout in the trailer, says to Jesse. “You. You’re
going to be great.”
As the title suggests, the film is drapedin neon splendour, emphasising dream-like visuals, and haunting images. Theplot itself is under heavy wraps but Winding Refn has been talking about theproject off and on for years.
Speaking to /Film the director elaboratedon his premise.
“One morning I woke and realized I was bothsurrounded and dominated by women. Strangely, a sudden urge was planted in meto make a horror film about vicious beauty. After making Drive and fallingmadly in love with the electricity of Los Angeles, I knew I had to return totell the story of The Neon Demon. This movie is a manifestation of the strongties between us and will lead to many more adventures.”
Fitting for its cut-throat LA setting,Winding Refn’s wife, Liv Corfixen has also revealed the influence of Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed, a 16th centurycountess considered one of the most prolific female murderers who ever lived.Báthory is the one rumoured to have bathed in the blood of virgins to maintainher appearance, which seems perfectly in keeping with what we’ve seen here.
The film was recently acquired by Amazonwho plan to give the film a cinema release ahead of its early-windowdistribution on Prime Instant Video. The Neon Demon joins Amazon’s unconventionalroster of dark movies which include Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq and the Kristen Wiig-starringcomedy Desired Moments.
Abbey Lee (Mad Max: Fury Road) plays afellow model with a violent side, and Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves, JenaMalone, and Bella Heathcote also star with Refn working again with composerCliff Martinez and editor Matthew Newman.
The Neon Demon will have its world première in the Official Competition of the 69th Cannes film festival. Amazon Studios will release it in June.
https://youtu.be/cipOTUO0CmU