13 Overlooked Films From Famous Directors

Nicolas Winding Refn is one of modern cinema's most fascinating auteurs and it was great when he broke into the mainstream with Drive. Unfortunately, he squandered all that goodwill with Only God Forgives. Refn has bounced back since, yet few people are acknowledging this.

The Neon Demon sees him venture in full-on horror territory and the results are every bit as demented as you'd hope for. It's hauntingly beautiful and one of the most visually stunning horror films ever, yet it proved sharply polarizing. For the most part people agreed it was visually stunning but many accused the film of lacking in substance.

That is arguably true, but it arguably misses the point of what Refn was aiming for. This is a mood piece where the images and metaphors tell the story and sell the substance; given how sad and haunting the visuals are, the substance is definitely there. It's a truly dazzling nightmare that's one of the most entertaining cinematic depictions of jealousy in recent memory.

Unlike Only God Forgives, this is a return to the melancholy but pleasingly accessible style of Drive, so it sees Refn getting his unique aesthetic right this time; hopefully it'll become a cult classic.