The Neon Demon...

The Neon Demon 

This new production by Nicolas Winding Refn has resemblance to that of Black Swan. As he stated "One morning I woke up and realised I was both surrounded and dominated by women. Strangely, a sudden urge was planted in me to make a horror film about vicious beauty." 

We took inspiration from the framing in these long shots, where the protagonist is positioned in the centre of the frame surrounded by symmetrical mis en scene and locations on either side, the use of symmetry makes the scene lose its qualities to catch the attention, instead having the audience focus their attention on main character who is isolated in the centre of the frame.

The use of mirrors is another symbol and motif of duality within a person especially in an over the shoulder shot or a close up, demonstrating alter ego's perceived on either side of the pane of glass. We use this especially within our sequence as in both the public and private bathroom, where her reflection of herself spurs the flashbacks to her eventual inevitable realisation of her alter ego.

The representation of the darker alter ego, is especially representational in the darkness surrounding them especially within lighting such as in the flashback of the bedroom where she is immersed in the darkness, since we only used a key light and no back light. The dark colours even of the costumes and makeup especially in the bottom of the three pictures, with the dark eye and lips to outwardly depict the darkness of the persona. This is the atypical rebellious character, depicted in more hollywood productions likely as promiscuous. 

Juxtaposing this, you have the use of white light and high key lighting with the more passive persona, surrounded by reflective objects. This is the atypical fragile "girl next door" character who is timid and vulnerable hunted by the darkness of her thoughts. The lack of intense makeup combined with the paler clothing complimenting her skin tone, produces an angelic quality. 

We further used the domesticated settings of bedrooms and bathrooms as they do here, despite the above location depicting a hotel room, we use a similar concept of the public facilities evident in the bathroom, where she attempts to find refuge yet cannot, hence is driven home to her own bathroom.