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‘The Neon Demon’ Trailer: Elle Fanning Plays ‘Dangerous’ And Possibly Homicidal Supermodel [Watch]

By Ny MaGee
Published on: 10:21 PST, Apr 15, 2016

The U.S. trailer for Nicolas Winding Refn’s female-driven horror-thriller The Neon Demon has been released, and Amazon Studios announced that the film will have its world premiere in the Official Competition of the 69th Cannes Film Festival. Coming Soon reports the movie is slated to hit theaters in June. Check out the first official teaser via the player below, in which lead star Elle Fanning says, “You know what my mother used to call me? Dangerous…a dangerous girl.”

The story centers on an aspiring model who moves to Los Angeles, “where her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has,” according to a synopsis. The cast includes Jena Malone, Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks, Abbey Lee, Bella Heathcote, Desmond Harrington, and Karl Glusman.

Back in 2014, here’s what Nicolas Winding Refn had to say about the project,

“One morning I woke and realized I was both surrounded and dominated by women. Strangely, a sudden urge was planted in me to make a horror film about vicious beauty. After making Drive and falling madly in love with the electricity of Los Angeles, I knew I had to return to tell the story of The Neon Demon. This movie is a manifestation of the strong ties between us and will lead to many more adventures.”

From a press release, Keanu, who plays Hank in the film, described what The Neon Demon means to him, “There’s something about the light – you can call it artificial light, but I guess all light is artificial besides the sun – and the neon quality of it. [There’s] something about those colors that attracts and repulses at the same time. And then there’s the demon part. What is the demon within; what is the demon on the outside? Is it ego? It may be a fear of death. Or desire. It’s all sorts of fun stuff.”

Elle described it as “L.A., because of all the lights,” while Christina Hendricks said it is “The dark underbelly of beauty and the things we would do for beauty.”

Below you’ll find additional quotes from some of the cast on what The Neon Demon is to them.

“The industry and the city. It’s glossy and shiny but it will eat you alive.”
– Bella Heathcote (Gigi)

“A demonic force…camouflaged in glitter and stilettos.”
– Abbey Lee (Sarah)

“That kind of empty, shallow notoriety or celebrity that doesn’t really mean anything in the end and…eats people up and spits them out.”
– Karl Glusman (Dean)

As Variety previously reported, the film was sold and financed by Gaumont and Wild Bunch. Amazon Studios acquired the distribution rights to the film in November 2015. It also marks the third consecutive film directed by Winding Refn to compete for the Palme d’Or at Cannes, following Drive and Only God Forgives. After the U.S. trailer dropped yesterday, the U.K. followed up with an NSFW teaser that gives us a glimpse of Keanu Reeves.

Elle Fanning is the younger sister of actress Dakota Fanning and is mainly known for her starring roles in Phoebe in Wonderland, Somewhere, We Bought a Zoo, and as Aurora in 2014’s Maleficent. Her breakout role came in 2011 when she starred in JJ Abrams’ sci-fi-drama blockbuster Super 8.

For her work, Fanning has received numerous nominations and awards, including a Saturn Award, a Young Artist Award, a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, a Teen Choice Award, a Scream Award, and an MTV Movie Award.

Check out the “dangerous” and possibly murderous Elle Fanning in The Neon Demon U.S. trailer below.

Are you excited about The Neon Demon? Sound off in the comments section.


[Image via Jason Merritt/Getty Images]

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