Nicolas Winding Refn Reveals Seven Surprising Film Inspirations: ‘La Dolce Vita,’ ‘Cloverfield’ & More
Zack Sharf
Nicolas Winding Refn has made a provocative career out of blending the avant grade with traditional genre elements (see his latest shocker “The Neon Demon” for proof), and given the following seven films on his list of cinematic inspirations, this speciality of his somehow all makes sense. As part of his current publicity tour for the Elle Fanning-starring horror film, Refn has partnered with online streaming service MUBI to curate a season’s worth of titles based on the movies that have inspired and excited him most.
READ MORE: Here Are 12 of Nicolas Winding Refn’s Most Provocative Statements
Refn has always been an outspoken fan of Federico Fellini and giallo master Dario Aregnto, so seeing films like “La Dolce Vita” and “Suspiria” on his list shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, especially since the latter seems to have been a major influence on “The Neon Demon.” And yet, always one to surprise, Refn also lists Matt Reeves’ found footage sci-fi thriller “Cloverfield,” the aesthetic and themes of which have yet to appear in a Refn film. Does this mean we could be getting Refn’s version of an alien thriller down the road? Potentially.
“The Neon Demon” is now playing in theaters. Check out Refn’s MUBI picks below (note: this MUBI Curated Season is only available in the UK), and find out what the director has to say about the films in the attached video.
“Suspiria,” Dario Argento (1977) – Available on MUBI from 1 July for 30 days
“La Dolce Vita,” Federico Fellini (1960) – Available on MUBI from 2 July for 30 days
“Cloverfield,” Matt Reeves (2008) – Available on MUBI from 3 July for 30 days
“The Curse of Frankenstein,” Terence Fisher (1957) – Available on MUBI from 4 July for 30 days
“To Die For,” Gus Van Sant (1995) – Available on MUBI from 5 July for 30 days
“Le Silence De La Mer,” Jean-Pierre Melville (1949) – Available on MUBI from 6 July for 30 days
“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” Tobe Hooper (1974) – Available on MUBI from 7 July for 30 days
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