The 9 and 10 reviews must be from relatives or cast members. This is a very basic move, nothing outstanding, slow moving , not scary. I last 20 minutes just waiting to see if something exciting happens-it never happened. Maybe I watched the wrong version.
23 Reviews
Waste of time
obi_wan_kenobi_UKR20 July 2022
What can be said about this picture? Firstly, the first part of the film is a drag with a slow plot development. Secondly, further events are difficult to understand. It is hard to figure out where we see the present, and what episodes are playing in the head of the protagonist. One gets the impression that at a certain moment the creative team lost the thread of understanding and simply began to shoot frames that can really be mounted together.
A slow burn that fizzles.
joker-415 July 2022
Neon Lights, directed with colorful flair by Rouzbeh Heydari, boldly attempts a Shyamalan-worthy little kick. Regrettably, what comes before that concluding zinger is a confusing mess - one that could have been avoided with a stronger script.
And better acting.
The mystery within tries to build - unsuccessfully. There is no suspense. There is no ticking-clock. Even the veiled threat of a killer on the loose is mostly ignored. Kim Coates plays the devil-in-your-ear with all the hammy force he can muster but such talents are wasted as Clay's mumbling grounds any potential conflict into dust. The finale offers answers but even that Big Reveal is mostly a cough of an aside.
Heydari plays a visual tug-of-war between stressed-out reality and chaotic illusions but neither struggle is engaging. A mysterious man with a tux hides in the shadows but his threats are loudly impotent. This could have been a Sixth Sense-style debut. Instead, Neon Lights is ironically a dark slog of confusion, repetition, and poorly-directed, annoying characters.
And better acting.
The mystery within tries to build - unsuccessfully. There is no suspense. There is no ticking-clock. Even the veiled threat of a killer on the loose is mostly ignored. Kim Coates plays the devil-in-your-ear with all the hammy force he can muster but such talents are wasted as Clay's mumbling grounds any potential conflict into dust. The finale offers answers but even that Big Reveal is mostly a cough of an aside.
Heydari plays a visual tug-of-war between stressed-out reality and chaotic illusions but neither struggle is engaging. A mysterious man with a tux hides in the shadows but his threats are loudly impotent. This could have been a Sixth Sense-style debut. Instead, Neon Lights is ironically a dark slog of confusion, repetition, and poorly-directed, annoying characters.
My take.. no one has expressed yet
zaahidbax25 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Everything that supposedly happened at the house was actually mental imagery produced by the therapist (with her ground breaking treatment... as the film shows towards the end with the newspaper clip on the wall). As surely the therapist's new treatment wasnt to actually encourage her patient to "kill" (the word she used at the end) all the people that caused him grief ? Instead kill the memory that hurts you.
The piece of paper he tears up at the end seemed to be a sign that he finally got rid of the demons..... BUT.... then in the car, this proves short lived as he hasnt been fully cured, as "he" reappears in the driving seat.
Otherwise if the murders actually do take place, there are so many anomalies. One example is where the girl is trying to escape from her uncle, she runs downstairs, and sees Kim Coates at the door, and takes fright and runs in the opposite direction... all the while her uncle is chasing her. This implies, all this is taking place in Dana's mind under the supervision of his therapist.
That's my take.
The piece of paper he tears up at the end seemed to be a sign that he finally got rid of the demons..... BUT.... then in the car, this proves short lived as he hasnt been fully cured, as "he" reappears in the driving seat.
Otherwise if the murders actually do take place, there are so many anomalies. One example is where the girl is trying to escape from her uncle, she runs downstairs, and sees Kim Coates at the door, and takes fright and runs in the opposite direction... all the while her uncle is chasing her. This implies, all this is taking place in Dana's mind under the supervision of his therapist.
That's my take.
Terrible waste of time
nevjshaw12 July 2022
Boring and pointless.
ap29076112 July 2022
Flat out BAD!!!
tman-2128924 July 2022
What a boring, go nowhere snooze fest of a movie this is!! The entire cast was terrible! I mean it's blatantly obvious that Kim Coates is taking these roles and producing these movies to try and help his daughter Brenna break into the business, but she didn't do herself any favors here! And the guy who played Clay was terrible!! It might be worth watching just so you can see how bad, BAD is.
I gave it 1 stars just because minus stars isn't an option.
I gave it 1 stars just because minus stars isn't an option.
Poorly executed
t2do2dl2da31 July 2022
You are left not knowing what is real and what is imagination.
The main character had some for form of nervous breakdown but you are left wondering what actually happened. Who killed who or who did what.
You cannot tell what is amemory and what is actual reality.
Not a spectacular movie.
The main character had some for form of nervous breakdown but you are left wondering what actually happened. Who killed who or who did what.
You cannot tell what is amemory and what is actual reality.
Not a spectacular movie.
A film that had great potential
mirzanaghman1 August 2022
Neon lights was a film that struggled with its identity. As a viewer it felt like a modern take on Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but at the same time there were many elements that made it feel like a take on Frankenstein's monster. Leaving me with the question of whether or not Clay's demons were actually created by his past trauma. No character in this film had any proper development especially Clay who we were meant to be afraid of, but fear of a character starts when they become unrecognizable to who they once were and at no point was Clay unrecognizable. The audience should never have expected that Clay was the killer, the early reveal destroyed the potential for suspense and in a film like this the most important element are suspenseful/thrilling sequences.
Convoluted at best
gardenoblivion26 July 2022
One of the best thrillers of 2022
pere-253664 July 2022
Tense, electric and featuring superb performances and writing, "Neon Lights" is simply one of the best thrillers of 2022. Producer/Writer/Star Dana Abraham has crafted a story here that will both resonate and entertain.
Okay Thriller Movie
Brittany22462214 July 2022
I watched this I'm still not sure what to make of it. It's not as bad as some of the reviews make it out to be but certainly not the best film either. I like thrillers a lot but for some reason something was missing with this film. It certainly has an interesting premise but falls sort of flat? I think some the actors were miscast in their roles too, some scenes felt like actors reading from a script rather than actually being the roles they were in. Kim coates and his daughter were good in this, I liked their characters. I didn't buy that Clarissa was Blair's mom though that felt super unrealistic and really off to me. I don't fault the actors with the material they were given it seemed like they did the best with what they had. The story was the weakest part for me. I think sometimes people forget that yes good cinematography, production design, lighting, locations etc are important but not as important as a good story that is compelling and keeps the viewer entertained. It had good production value for sure but it seemed like the focus was too much on it looking good rather than realizing the audience can forgive certain things, and as someone who loves indie films I have seen films with less production value but way better stories that make up for it because a good story is what will be the most memorable to people not some fancy camera angle or cooling looking shot. I think people who make films forget that story is the most important element at the end of the day.
Why someone rate this more than 1 star??
pouyan-arephpoor11 August 2022
- Bad acting
- Awful music choice
- The end easily could be guessed from the beginning (Lame story)
Slow,Confusing and Seemingly about nothing
tread-1272822 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The main character is clearly having a psychopathic break. I'm not sure if the Kim Coates character is even a real person or if it is some manifestation of the main guy's mind. Either way the plot is unsurprising, the Acting however was just fine. It's the story that needed work. This is one of those movies that you watch hoping it will get better, but it never does.
3 for trying
clreviews25 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I'm only 40 min into this movie and it's just becoming background noise. Acting meh, some even annoying. So my main issue is up until 20 min into movie I thought the other girl was friend. But she was daughter of the couple??. Like actors look early to late 30. And y'all telling me that their daughter?. They only managed to make her look younger once. They just put glasses on 25 years old actress and pink clothing lol. Would i recommend? Not really Unless u need background noise.
This is bad
Otte123 September 2023
I am not sure what was the purpose of the is movie. The story setup is intriguing, but everything else just falls apart.
Time: It is hard to tell if you are in the present, past or in someone's head. While part of this is intentional to blur the lines of reality, as a viewer if I do not know what is going on, I cannot become invested in the story.
Several of the characters are so over-the-top stereotypical I half expected Mickey Rooney to add buck teeth and pretend to be Chinese(older people will know the reference). The nerd has to be the ccomplete nerd, the bully a-hole pretty much made the movie unwatchable with his 'a-holeness'. Each person is playing such a caricature of another character that you have no one that you care about.
Overall very confusing with no payoff.
Time: It is hard to tell if you are in the present, past or in someone's head. While part of this is intentional to blur the lines of reality, as a viewer if I do not know what is going on, I cannot become invested in the story.
Several of the characters are so over-the-top stereotypical I half expected Mickey Rooney to add buck teeth and pretend to be Chinese(older people will know the reference). The nerd has to be the ccomplete nerd, the bully a-hole pretty much made the movie unwatchable with his 'a-holeness'. Each person is playing such a caricature of another character that you have no one that you care about.
Overall very confusing with no payoff.
Simply INCREDIBLE
paulhutchinson-5115315 July 2022
This is one for the ages. If you appreciate top class directing, acting and especially screenplay then this movie has to sit atop your list. The protagonist was simply phenomenal from start to finish. This movie will have you in the edge of your seat while making you do mental gymnastics at the same time. You'd be doing yourself a major disservice not watching this film. WELL DONE.
Neon Lights (2022)
nebohr7 March 2023
Neon Lights (2022)
A rather lack-luster production which tries hard to be a horror/ thriller movie but does not succeed. A weak "who-done-it" story, besides. So we don't find fault with the actors. Sometimes a job is, simply, a job.
Both my wife and myself have some respect for Kim Coates; as an actor. My wife absolutely adores his piercing green eyes. Mister Coates, dude: why don't you do a period piece like: "The Pale Blue Eye"?
We were unable to connect emotionally with any of the characters nor did we ever get a feeling of suspense.
DO NOT be dragging a bloody axe across my clean wood floor!
A rather lack-luster production which tries hard to be a horror/ thriller movie but does not succeed. A weak "who-done-it" story, besides. So we don't find fault with the actors. Sometimes a job is, simply, a job.
Both my wife and myself have some respect for Kim Coates; as an actor. My wife absolutely adores his piercing green eyes. Mister Coates, dude: why don't you do a period piece like: "The Pale Blue Eye"?
We were unable to connect emotionally with any of the characters nor did we ever get a feeling of suspense.
DO NOT be dragging a bloody axe across my clean wood floor!
Captivating
shazeedag7 July 2022
Intricate, this well-designed maze leaves you questioning the motives of both the film and your life - in the best way. The best psychological thriller of the year so far, Dana Abraham portrays a complicated yet identifiable character nested in an unpredictable story. Thrilling, haunting, and sprinkled with humour, a must see! Bravo!
Contemplative Psychological study
jmbovan-47-1601738 March 2023
I'm not certain to call this film a thriller or describe as suspenseful. It has unsettling and awkward moments, but it's not scary nor is it a horror film.
Instead, we are witness to the emotional breakdown of a young CEO. The film has subtle elements as it unfolds, not twists per se, but everything that we see isn't exactly what it seems. Not a mystery to solve, but the plot has a couple layers to unveil.
Subtle seems to be the opportune word to use to describe the film. It doesn't come together as well as it could have (vague elements arent clearly explained), but the overall product does provide something that was worth my effort to watch. I didn't try to understand as I watch it, but rather I let it wash over me as I allowed myself to witness it.
Instead, we are witness to the emotional breakdown of a young CEO. The film has subtle elements as it unfolds, not twists per se, but everything that we see isn't exactly what it seems. Not a mystery to solve, but the plot has a couple layers to unveil.
Subtle seems to be the opportune word to use to describe the film. It doesn't come together as well as it could have (vague elements arent clearly explained), but the overall product does provide something that was worth my effort to watch. I didn't try to understand as I watch it, but rather I let it wash over me as I allowed myself to witness it.
Unreal Experience
dtbbjkgcqh15 July 2022
This movie has found a way to incorporate the struggles of family history that many people experience and depicts a situation where Clay needs to overcome his demons. The acting by lead Dana Abraham is phenomenal and the character he is able to transform into is captivating and keeps you guessing at all times. The ending pulls everything back around full circle and reminds the audience that everything in life is manageable and anyone can overcome the demons of our past.
Perception is reality, and this movie made me appreciate my past and current. Amazing from start to finish.
Perception is reality, and this movie made me appreciate my past and current. Amazing from start to finish.
Loved it
ssegalo24 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I really enjoyed this movie. It was very confusing and I had to go back a few times and pause and look up the explanation at the end. But strangely that's what I liked about it. It made you try to think and put the puzzle pieces together. I get tired of the same plots all the time and this movie was different in so many ways. I enjoyed it. Don't read reviews first, always watch a movie first and then make up your own opinion.
I liked it.
I didnt understand what happened to Blair though as it showed her being killed, but then the trust was in her name.... and the nurse bathing him and drowning him was confusing especially when she showed up at the end too. But maybe that was a hospital where they try new methods. They showed the plaque on the wall for the doctors new healing method. Maybe it sort of worked. It did get him out of his catatonic state... progress for sure.
Watch it and come up with your own conclusions. Sometimes it's nice to not listen to another opnion and come up with your own.
I liked it.
I didnt understand what happened to Blair though as it showed her being killed, but then the trust was in her name.... and the nurse bathing him and drowning him was confusing especially when she showed up at the end too. But maybe that was a hospital where they try new methods. They showed the plaque on the wall for the doctors new healing method. Maybe it sort of worked. It did get him out of his catatonic state... progress for sure.
Watch it and come up with your own conclusions. Sometimes it's nice to not listen to another opnion and come up with your own.
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