You’ve got to give it to Nicholas Winding Refn–he of the awfully cool name–who, visually speaking, is probably one of the most interesting directors working today.
The way he uses color reminds me of Guillermo Del Toro, who also uses it to indicate a certain atmosphere and feel.
So it goes without saying that the trailer is gorgeous, though it’s hard to tell what the movie is actually about, besides in a very general sense. The larger strokes are easy to see–a model looking for her big break, intimations of violence, and with a touch of lesbianism.
There’s also a Starry Eyes-type vibe, but while that movie was a take on Rosemary’s Baby, The Neon Demon is a bit vaguer.
Therein lies the problem.