In the climax of the film, the protagonist, Jesse (Elle Fanning), has risen to the top of the modeling world, gaining recognition for her striking beauty. However, her success leads to envy and obsession among her fellow models, particularly Gigi (Bella Heathcote) and Sarah (Abbey Lee).
As the jealousy intensifies, Gigi and Sarah, under the influence of a sinister makeup artist named Ruby (Jena Malone), conspire to kill Jesse. They attack her, ultimately murdering her and consuming her beauty in a ritualistic and cannibalistic manner.
The film takes a surreal and symbolic turn as it explores themes of beauty, narcissism, and the dark side of the fashion industry. The ending is open to interpretation, and the film concludes with Jesse’s fate remaining ambiguous.
In the final scenes, Ruby, now transformed by Jesse’s beauty, appears to have gained some form of power or transcendence. The film ends with a sense of unease and leaves viewers to contemplate the symbolic and nightmarish elements presented throughout the story.
“The Neon Demon” is known for its visually striking and provocative imagery, as well as its exploration of societal expectations and the consequences of the pursuit of beauty in the fashion industry. The ending, in particular, is designed to provoke thought and discussion about the film’s themes.
In summary, “The Neon Demon” ends with the unsettling demise of the protagonist, Jesse, at the hands of jealous rivals who consume her beauty in a symbolic and macabre fashion. The film concludes on a mysterious and disturbing note, leaving much open to interpretation.