10 Hidden Meanings Behind Confusing Horror Movies

While it’s streamlined compared to 2013’s Only God Forgives, 2016’s The Neon Demon exemplifies Nicolas Winding Refn’s divisive fondness for stylishness and cloudy metaphors over narrative clarity.

For most of its runtime, The Neon Demon is like Less Than Zero meets Mulholland Drive, painting a sinisterly satirical portrait of the predatory and vapid Los Angeles fashion industry through the eyes of an up-and-coming model called Jesse.

Aside from ambiguous neon triangles; an inexplicably murderous and pedophiliac motel owner; and another model (Sarah) licking blood from Jesse’s injured hand, the movie is generally unassuming. That is, until about 30 minutes from the finale, when Refn doubles down on his multifaceted terror.

After dreaming that the motel owner is sexually assaulting her with a knife, Jesse is murdered and consumed by Sarah and two other women (Gigi and Ruby), all of whom are clearly cannibals - if not witches - who may’ve been manipulating Jesse all along. Oh, and Ruby makes out with a corpse because why not?

Although some of Refn’s unanswered questions and bewildering montages remain elusive, his central messages about the cannibalistic nature of the fashion industry (including the competitiveness and insecurities of younger celebrities) are sufficiently thought-provoking upon reflection.