"Nerve", teen thriller based on YA novel about an online reality game in which the participants take part in increasingly risky dares for money. Surprisingly entertaining, it's the Adventures in Babysitting for the social media age, about a girl heading into the New York night for a high-stakes thrill-ride. Only drops the ball by the end, when after flirting with a bleak conclusion, it unconvincingly contrives something more upbeat. Has two cast members from Orange Is the New Black in supporting roles, so there must be some link.
"The Neon Demon". Intriguing enough for the first hour and as expected for Nicholas Winding Refn, extremely stylishly shot and scored. Then it becomes apparent that there is no plot, no characterisation and nothing of interest to say about its subject matter and that there is another hour to go. Refn is becoming a one-trick-pony and the film completely falls apart by the end with laughable attempts at being provocative and shocking. I've seen episodes of America's Next Top Model which were more scary and disturbing. Jena Malone is often the best thing about the films she appears in, but the role she's been given here feels like an insulting throwback (predatory dyke), while the usually very good Elle Fanning is given little to do in the lead apart from looking sulky. For a horror film about the fashion industry, the styling and clothes are surprisingly poor. Churning out icily stylish eye candy does not make you the next Stanley Kubrick (or David Lynch and not even Dario Argento).
