Director Director Nicolas Winding Refn may be from Denmark originally, but he loves to shoot in L.A. “I very much love Los Angeles and I love working here” says Refn of the popular city. “I find it very inspiring and very creative and some of the best crews are in Los Angeles”.

Refn’s newest film, The Neon Demon, tells the story of Jesse, a naïve and beautiful sixteen-year-old girl who makes the big move to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams of being a model. Although she finds success in the industry rather quickly, her achievements draw not only the eye of her admirers, but also of those who wish to see her fail. The other veteran models have started to notice how much attention this newcomer has been getting, and they’ll do anything to win back the spotlight – even if it means violently reclaiming their throne.

This tale of cutthroat beauty and dangerous stardom is made all the more poignant by the fact that the film is set in Los Angeles, the town that welcomes new talent with open arms, and then promptly makes or breaks that talent without hesitation or mercy. When it came time to shoot Refn’s tale of all consuming envy and high fashion, he knew there was no better place to depict his rising star caught in the claws of her jealous peers.

“L.A. is on one hand very mysterious, it’s very modern” muses Refn. “It’s a mysterious place, it’s a haunting place, and everything in our culture around the world of entertainment leads back to Hollywood. So, it was like, if the wizard was alive today, where would he be? He’d be in Hollywood, and of course Dorothy would be coming to him, but this time she exploits him and he is innocent”.

Refn has been wanting to make his very own horror movie for some time, and as unconventional as Neon Demon may seem, it does still fall into that category. The only difference is, whereas most generic horror features focus on possession or a masked maniac cutting down as many babysitters as possible, Refn chose to make a frightening film about beauty. “I find beauty very frightening because it’s such an all consuming subject in our society” says Refn. To him, the subject he found most enthralling and the most terrifying was narcissim. Interestingly enough, his film seems to offer up arguments for it being both a positive and a negative trait. “In my children’s generation, they’re approaching narcissism, because of evolution, in a much more vocal way, of acceptance to a point of celebrating it. Of course I think that’s both fantastic, also frightening, but I believe it’s a normal evolution. Narcissism is very much still a taboo in our society. We relish in it, it’s part of our DNA, and yet we try to control it, but the new generation just seems to accept it. Which is probably very healthy in the end”.

Above all else, The Neon Demon serves as a cathartic way for Refn to live out his dreams of being a sixteen-year-old girl. “I guess I just love women. Everything about them and being creative is a very female medium, in a way, and I was just embracing all that and what comes with it. It was like almost my fantasy of, or no, it was my fantasy, I have to admit, of what it would be like being a beautiful woman, being a beautiful sixteen-year-old girl. I think every man has that inside of him, and I just was lucky enough to fantasize it out of me”.

Although Refn has arguably just made his best film as a director yet, his latest focus is on the projects he’s producing, including his upcoming Maniac Cop reimagining, which he’s attached to oversee. When asked if his version of the 1988 cult classic would be a prequel or a reboot, Refn responded with: “I think it will be its own beast, I think it’s taking the elements from the original Larry Cohen and William Lustig one, but you know, reinterpreting it through a new generation that obviously has changed and gained sensibility”. From what he says here, it seems pretty clear that his Maniac Cop will be a complete reboot of the franchise.

Although the original William Lustig independent film is set in New York, Refn’s version, with John Hyams (Universal Soldier: Regeneration and Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning) will take place in and be shot in L.A. According to Refn, the film will begin shooting this fall. The flourishing director seems thrilled to be helping another up-and-comer join the ranks of the greats. “I’m very very proud of [John Hyams] and honored to be working with him. I think his Universal Soldier film is one the best action films I’ve seen in years and years and years”.

Given recent events in the media, one might wonder if Hyams and Refn’s take on Maniac Cop might serve as some sort of commentary on modern day American society. According to Refn, it’s a very real possibility, even if they’re not entirely sure what it is that they want to say yet. “I think certainly when you’re making Maniac Cop you can make a real interesting comment on society” points out Refn. “Well I think we have to make the movie first, but I think that is one of John’s wishes, is to really reflect on what’s happening in the U.S. today”.

As for how much input he’ll have with the project, since he’ll be a producer and not the director this time around, Refn made it a point to say that he very much believes in allowing the filmmaker as much freedom as possible, and only stepping in when it is absolutely necessary. When discussing how hands on he’ll be, Refn had this to say: “As much as John needs me. You know, I think that, again, filmmaking is the director’s medium in the end, and the best thing a producer can do is stay out of the way and support the director one hundred percent. Even though you may even disagree, there can only one person that authors the film, and that is the director”.

Another upcoming producing project on Refn’s horizon is the remake of the beloved 1968 Witchfinder General. Although Refn says he still doesn’t have a director picked out or a definite date for when it will begin production, he did express that although the original film became famous for its gratuitous nature, his version won’t be all about the gore. “It really depends on the director and I haven’t found the director yet, so once I find that person I’m sure he or she will do what is necessary to bring the film into the future, but I do believe that it’s a really interesting counter culture movie and that’s why it’s still has such a hard edge to it. Because it’s not just gratuitous, it’s about something, and that’s what’s important. There has to be a thought behind an act to make it really interesting”.

Refn’s three producing projects, Witchfinder General, Maniac Cop, and What Have You Done to Solange? will all be shot in Los Angeles. Refn seems especially excited about shooting his remake of the famous Solange ‘70s giallo flick in the city he enjoys spending so much time in. “L.A. is a great mythological city and I think a movie like Solange could fit very well here”.

The Neon Demon hits theaters everywhere on June 24th, 2016.