Innocence is something that Fanning has been typecast of late but it’s a note that she plays well and Neon Demon allows her to be seduced by a dark, intoxicating world.Īmong the supporting roles are Jena Malone (an often cruelly overlooked actress) and she deserves due nod here as make up artist, Ruby.Īs Jesse falls further into this world, entranced by its beauty.

In this case it kind of works in his favour as it shines the light on the vacuous nature that the fashion industry can bring.Įlle Fanning plays the doe-eyed sixteen year old Jesse aspiring to break through as a model. This in part is what Winding Refn has been criticised for, both highly and poorly. So I went into Neon Demon not knowing which side of the fence I’d fall.Īs usual the cinematography was stunning, as you’re treated to a spectacular visual journey into the beautiful, yet vacant world of fashion. Making his name since The Pusher Trilogy, he has developed something of a love him / hate him approach to his movies.įrom a personal perspective, Drive was one of the best films released that year, but Only God Forgives left me trying. LOOKING AT THIS decade alone, Nicolas Winding Refn is carving an interesting film career. Listen below to our thoughts and opinions in the first of our Halloween franchise discussions. The team at Surgeons of Horror dissects the movie in question to try and answer these questions and more.

Or does it stand out in its own right, a successful addition to the Halloween series? Interestingly set over the course of the same Hallows Eve of the previous movie as Myers continues on his killing spree.īut does Halloween II fall under the curse of movie sequels, doomed to live in the shadows of its successful predecessor? John Carpenter would vacate the director’s chair for Rick Rosenthal, but would still play an active role in the screenwriting and production of the movie, alongside Debra Hill.Īlso returning to the franchise would be Donald Pleasance as Dr Sam Loomis and Jamie Lee Curtis as the ever-troubled Laurie Strode. Just three years after the original hit our screens, Michael Myers would return to Haddonfield, transporting him from Horror icon to legendary status.Īlong with it, the Halloween franchise was born.

Countess Dracula by Guy Adams