8 Horror Movies With Deeper Meanings Than You Realise

It's not so much the meaning of The Neon Demon that eludes an audience, but the story itself, since director Nicholas Winding Refn does his best to make something both beautiful and illusive with his comment on the dark underbelly of the fashion industry. Wrapped up in shiny lights and distracting makeup is a tale of witchcraft, however, one that isn't easily seen on the surface thanks to its glossy exterior.

As Jesse befriends a trio of women, they slowly groom her for her enviable youth and beauty, before eventually killing and eating her in a ritualistic practise. It's not so clear to begin with, but becomes apparent as the story unfolds - with each conversation pertaining to how the three women will use Jesse: for food, or for sex. Their obsession with her is a mesmerism with Jesse's innate power they wish to imbibe themselves with.

Jesse herself is the representation of the pitfalls of ego, letting her narcissism fuel her to the point of her own downfall, with the myth of Narcissus driving Refn's portrayal of his character from innocent to self-obsessed. The blue triangle scene sees Jesse in her own warped depiction of falling in love with her own reflection, as Narcissus did when looking into a pond and finding his own face staring back.

It's ultimately the tale of the darker empowerment women can tap into: valuing appearance above all else, and devouring each other to get to the top.