10 Horror Movies That Wage War On Your Senses

5. The Neon Demon

Berberian Sound Studio
Wild Bunch

One of modern cinema's grottiest and most misunderstood treasures of recent years, The Neon Demon is a deliciously depraved deep-dive into the black heart of the fashion industry.

Telling the story of Jesse, a sixteen-year-old girl who lies about her age to become a model, this film explores themes of beauty, power, and abuse in a way that only Nicholas Winding Refn can - that being with an unparalleled sense of style and sadism.

Looking like a Vogue cover that's turned cancerous, the imagery on display is designed to evoke all manner of violent and sexual connotations that never fails to make you feel a bit queasy.

The cinematography by Natasha Braier is genuinely stunning, ranging from well-realised fashion iconography to the most uncomfortable voyeurism. All of which is perfectly punctuated by a throbbing EDM soundtrack that harks back to the genre's glory days.

It's not all just shimmering lights and eye-popping visuals though, beneath all the glitz and glitter, there's a real darkness that permeates throughout. Full to the brim with heinous acts and sporting one of the most nauseating climaxes ever filmed, this one is a must-see for those who love their trashy cinema with an extra coat of gloss.

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Contributor

UK based screenwriter, actor and one-half of the always-irreverent Kino Inferno podcast. Purveyor of cult cinema, survival horror games and low-rent slasher films.