Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Neon Demon is a surreal, hypnotic, visually aggressive thriller about beauty, obsession, and the cannibalistic nature of the fashion world—sometimes literally. Below is a comprehensive, spoiler-heavy exploration of the film.
Detailed Summary
Jesse Arrives in L.A.: The Birth of an Image
Sixteen-year-old Jesse (Elle Fanning) moves to Los Angeles to become a model. With no family, no connections, and only a cheap motel room to her name, she steps into an industry obsessed with youth and perfection. Her natural beauty immediately draws attention—especially from makeup artist Ruby and two models, Gigi and Sarah, whose envy is palpable.
The Fashion Industry Welcomes Its New Obsession
Jesse’s career skyrockets. Designers and photographers praise her as “the new thing,” pushing older models aside for her fresh-faced innocence. One photographer shoots Jesse under unsettling, intimate conditions, symbolically immersing her in a world that both worships and consumes beauty.
At this point, Jesse begins transforming—she becomes aware of her power and seductiveness. She starts to enjoy the attention, shifting from vulnerable newcomer to confident rising star.
The Dark Descent of Ruby, Gigi, and Sarah
Ruby, initially kind and protective, becomes consumed by desire for Jesse. When Jesse rejects her advances, Ruby’s demeanor changes. Meanwhile, Gigi and Sarah become increasingly hostile, each unable to handle Jesse’s effortless rise. Their hatred grows into something dangerous, animalistic, and unhinged.
The Night of the Ritual
Jesse, alone in her mansion-like temporary home, experiences a haunting sequence of visions—neon triangles, mirrors of infinite reflections, and hallucinations that reflect the toxic beauty obsession surrounding her.
She attempts to escape, but Ruby, Gigi, and Sarah corner her. What follows is the film’s most shocking turn: they kill Jesse and consume her body, believing that eating beauty will make them beautiful.
This is where the film abandons realism entirely and descends into myth, metaphor, and nightmare.
Movie Ending
The ending takes the film’s themes to their brutal conclusion. After killing and devouring Jesse, Ruby bathes in Jesse’s blood in a very symbolic, ritualistic manner and later lies on a grave-like mound, suggesting her spiritual collapse.
During a photoshoot, Sarah becomes violently ill and rushes off set. Gigi, overwhelmed by guilt or jealousy—or both—vomits up Jesse’s eyeball. Horrified, she stabs herself with a piece of glass.
Sarah, standing beside Gigi’s corpse, calmly picks up Jesse’s eyeball and eats it. The implication is chilling: Sarah is willing to adopt any part of Jesse’s beauty, no matter how grotesque the method.
The film ends on her cold, emotionless, almost triumphant face. It is a disturbing and complete closing of the story’s central thesis: in this world, beauty is a currency worth killing—and dying—for.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. The Neon Demon does not include any post-credits or mid-credits scenes. Once the final shot fades, the experience is over.
Type of Movie
A psychological horror thriller tangled with surrealism and arthouse aesthetics. It merges fashion-world satire with body horror, resulting in a dreamlike, nightmarish critique of beauty culture.
Cast
- Elle Fanning as Jesse
- Jena Malone as Ruby
- Bella Heathcote as Gigi
- Abbey Lee as Sarah
- Keanu Reeves as Hank
- Karl Glusman as Dean
- Desmond Harrington as Jack
Film Music and Composer
Score by Cliff Martinez, known for his atmospheric, synth-heavy compositions. The music is hypnotic, pulsating, and dreamlike, perfectly blending with the film’s neon-soaked visuals. Songs include Sia’s Waving Goodbye (produced by Diplo).
Filming Locations
The movie was primarily shot in Los Angeles, using real fashion-world locations and minimalist interiors to emphasize its themes.
Notable locations include:
- Hollywood Hills homes for the surreal mansion sequences
- Downtown L.A. photo studios that reflect the sterile, cold environment of high fashion
- Runway venues around Los Angeles that were transformed to match Refn’s neon aesthetic
These locations create a contrast between glamor and decay—one of the film’s most important stylistic points.
Awards and Nominations
While polarizing, the film received recognition for its visual craftsmanship:
- Nominated for Palme d’Or at Cannes 2016
- Won Cannes Soundtrack Award (Cliff Martinez)
- Nominated for several critics’ awards for cinematography and score
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Refn cast Elle Fanning specifically because she represented innocence, a quality he wanted to corrupt over the course of the film.
- The film’s style was inspired by Refn’s self-described color-blindness; he often leans toward bold neon palettes as a result.
- Abbey Lee and Bella Heathcote improvised several of their competitive exchanges to intensify tension.
- The film sparked walkouts at Cannes due to its extreme final act—Refn considered this a success.
- Refn claimed he wanted to make a “horror film about beauty as currency.”
Inspirations and References
- Loosely inspired by the fashion industry’s darker stories
- Influenced by Dario Argento, especially Suspiria
- Echoes themes from The Picture of Dorian Gray
- Draws visual influence from Kubrick and Lynch
- Based on an original script, not a book adaptation
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Although Refn has discussed alternate concepts, no fully shot alternate ending exists. Some removed content included:
- More detailed background on Jesse’s life before L.A.
- Longer ritualistic sequences during the final act
- Additional dialogue between Gigi and Sarah emphasizing their desperation
These were cut to keep the film ambiguous and symbolic rather than literal.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Not applicable—the movie is not based on a book.
However, thematically it aligns with literary works exploring vanity, corruption, and exploitation of beauty.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Jesse’s triangle-mirror transformation sequence, symbolizing her rebirth into the “Neon Demon.”
- The macabre, unsettling photo shoot where the photographer silently paints Jesse’s body in gold.
- The blood-bath ritual after Jesse’s murder—one of the film’s most shocking moments.
- Gigi vomiting the eyeball and Sarah eating it.
Iconic Quotes
- Jesse: “Beauty isn’t everything. It’s the only thing.”
- Ruby: “Women would kill to look like that.”
- Jesse: “I don’t want to be them. They want to be me.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The triangle motif represents Jesse’s transformation—each corner symbolizing innocence, desire, and power.
- Mirrors appear in nearly every major scene, highlighting self-perception and distortion.
- Ruby’s profession as a mortician is symbolic: she beautifies the dead, foreshadowing Jesse’s fate.
- The film’s lighting shifts from cold blues to violent reds as Jesse changes psychologically.
Trivia
- Elle Fanning was actually only 16 during filming.
- The film received both boos and a standing ovation at Cannes.
- Nicolas Winding Refn’s wife appears briefly in a party scene.
- All neon lighting was done practically on set—not added in post.
Why Watch?
Because it’s bold, hypnotic, and visually unforgettable. If you appreciate films that are as much an experience as a narrative, with strong symbolism, style-driven storytelling, and a disturbing, thought-provoking message, The Neon Demon is essential viewing.
It is a film that people rarely forget—even if they want to.
Director’s Other Movies
- Drive (2011)
- Only God Forgives (2013)
- Bronson (2008)
- Valhalla Rising (2009)
- Pusher (1996)
- Pusher II (2004)
- Pusher III (2005)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Black Swan (2010)
- Suspiria (1977)
- Suspiria (2018)
- Under the Skin (2013)
- Mulholland Drive (2001)
- The Love Witch (2016)
- Perfect Blue (1997)
