Dangerous beauty: Amazon’s Neon Demon gets theatrical release date, trailer

Beauty has a dangerous edge in the upcoming horror flick The Neon Demon. Fortunately, we won’t have long to wait before we can see it. A deal has been reached between Amazon Studios and Broad Green Pictures, resulting in the film being slated for theatrical release next month, according to Deadline.

Amazon Studios acquired the film back in November, with the intention of releasing it in theaters before making it available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. It’s the same approach the studio employed with Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq, as well as the upcoming Woody Allen rom-com Café Society. Until now, however, no co-distributor or release date for The Neon Demon had been announced.

Broad Green Pictures released a new trailer on Monday, prior to a specific date being announced. The trailer introduces the group of beauty-obsessed women the film follows. At the center of the story is Jesse (played by Elle Fanning), an aspiring model who moves to Los Angeles and finds herself in danger as women seek to devour her youth and vitality. The  film also stars Karl Glusman, Jena Malone, Bella Heathcote, Abbey Lee, Christina Hendricks, and Keanu Reeves.

The story may not sound nightmare-inducing at first, but the preview paints a creepy picture indeed. There are numerous surreal moments, from a hand seemingly pressing through a wall to a mountain lion leaping onto the bed in what looks like a hotel room. Add in shots of blood around women’s mouths, knives, and voice-over in which a girl discusses how dangerous she is, and it’s evident the film is aimed at keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

The Neon Demon is helmed by acclaimed director Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive), who also wrote the screenplay with Mary Laws and Polly Stenham. Lene Børglum, Sidonie Dumas, and Vincent Maraval serve as producers. The film is set to screen in the Cannes competition on May 20 and opens in U.S. theaters on June 24.