{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox film | image = Neon Flesh poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | native_name = {{Infobox name module|es|Carne de neón|nolink=yes}} | director = Paco Cabezas | screenplay = Paco Cabezas | based_on = {{Based on|''Carne de neón'' (short film)|Paco Cabezas}} | producer = Juan Gordon | starring = {{Plain list| * Mario Casas * Vicente Romero * Luciano Cáceres * Macarena Gómez * Dámaso Conde * Vanessa Oliveira * Darío Grandinetti * Blanca Suárez * Antonio de la Torre * Ángela Molina }} | cinematography = Daniel Aranyó | editing = Antonio Frutos | music = {{ubl|Julio de la Rosa|Óscar Araujo}} | distributor = Vértice Cine ({{Abbrv|{{Smallcaps|es}}|Spain}}) | language = Spanish | released = {{Film date|2010|10|09|Sitges|2011|01|21|Spain|2013|02|21|Argentina|df=yes}} | country = {{ubl|Spain|Argentina|Sweden|France}} | studio = {{ubl|Morena Films|Jaleo Films|Oberon Cinematográfica|Mandarin Films|Hepp Films|Pensa&Rocca}} }} '''''Neon Flesh''''' ({{langx|es|'''Carne de neón'''|links=no}}) is a 2010 neo-noir thriller with comedy elements film directed by Paco Cabezas which stars Mario Casas alongside Vicente Romero, Macarena Gómez, Blanca Suárez, and Ángela Molina. It is a Spanish-Argentine-Swedish-French co-production.
== Plot == Upon his release, Ricky reunites with his mother, Pura, who has been working as a prostitute to make ends meet. Pura has been saving up money to fulfill Ricky's dream of opening a brothel, but when she is killed in a car accident, Ricky decides to honor her memory by fulfilling his own dream and opening a high-end brothel.
Ricky enlists the help of his former cellmate, Angelito, and his friend, Carlos, to make his dream a reality. Together, they set out to acquire the necessary funds and equipment to open the brothel, but soon find themselves in over their heads when they become the targets of a powerful and violent criminal gang led by the ruthless El Chino.
As they struggle to keep their business afloat and stay alive in the face of danger, Ricky and his friends must confront their own past mistakes and personal demons. In the end, they must make difficult choices and take drastic action to protect themselves and the ones they love.
Overall, Neon Flesh is a gritty and suspenseful film that explores themes of family, loyalty, and the consequences of our actions.
== Cast == {{Cast listing| * Mario Casas as Ricky<ref name="hola" /> * Vicente Romero as Angelito<ref name="holland" /> * Macarena Gómez as La Canija<ref name="hola" /> * Ángela Molina as Pura<ref name="holland" /> * Blanca Suárez as Verónica<ref name="hola">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hola.com/actualidad/20200517167834/macarena-gomez-recuerdo-gripe-a/|website=¡Hola!|title=Macarena Gómez, en un rodaje con mascarilla: 'Diez años más tarde, la historia se repite'|date=17 May 2020|first=María|last=Medina}}</ref> * Darío Grandinetti as El Chino<ref name="holland" /> * Dámaso Conde<ref name="canalsur" /> * Luciano Cáceres as El Niño<ref name="palacios" /> * Antonio de la Torre as Santos<ref name="holland" /> * {{ill|Vanessa Oliveira|pt}}<ref name="canalsur" /> * Juan Carlos Vellido<ref name="canalsur" /> * Andrea Carballo<ref name="canalsur" /> * {{ill|María Zamarbide|es}}<ref name="canalsur" /> * Ágatha Fresco<ref name="canalsur">{{Cite web|url=https://www.canalsur.es/carne-de-neon/1171358.html|website=Canal Sur|title=Carne de neón|date=2 March 2018}}</ref> }}
== Production == The film is based on a short film of the same name directed by Paco Cabezas.<ref name="publico" /> Some cast members from the short film reprised their roles in the full-length film (notable exceptions were Óscar Jaenada and Victoria Abril, respectively replaced by Mario Casas and Ángela Molina).<ref name="ep">{{Cite web|url=https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/sevilla-00357/noticia-paco-cabezas-hoy-sera-primera-vez-carne-neon-entiende-entera-20101112191036.html|website=Europa Press|date=12 November 2010|title=Paco Cabezas: "Hoy será la primera vez que 'Carne de Neón' se entiende entera"}}</ref>
A co-production among companies from Spain, Argentina, Sweden and France, the film was produced by {{ill|Juan Gordon (producer)|es|Juan Gordon|lt=Juan Gordon}}{{'}}s Morena Films alongside Jaleo Films, Oberon Cinematográfica, Mandarin Films, Hepp Films and Pensa&Rocca,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.panoramaaudiovisual.com/2009/09/29/finaliza-el-rodaje-de-carne-de-neon/|title=Finaliza el rodaje de 'Carne de Neón'|date=29 September 2009|website=Panorama Audiovisual}}</ref> with the participation of Canal Sur, TVC, TVV, TVG, and ETB.<ref name="holland" /> Shooting locations in Spain included Seville<ref name="ep" /> whereas shooting locations in Argentina included Belgrano (Buenos Aires).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/507356/0/carne/neon/casas/|website=20minutos.es|title=Mario Casas y 'Carne de neón': un gallego duro en Buenos Aires|date=1 September 2009}}</ref> Crew during the Argentine part of the filming used masks due to the 2009 swine flu pandemic alert.<ref name="hola" />
== Release == The film was presented at the Sitges Film Festival on 9 October 2010.<ref name="publico">{{Cite web|url=https://www.publico.es/actualidad/paco-cabezas-y-carne-neon.html|website=Público|date=9 October 2010|title=Con Paco Cabezas y su "Carne de neón" llega a Sitges un thriller de altura}}</ref>
Distributed by Vértice Cine, it was theatrically released in Spain on 21 January 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cineytele.com/2011/03/17/Carne-de-neon-de-Paco-Cabezas-seleccionada-en-el-Tribeca-Film-Festival/|website=Cine y Tele|title='Carne de neón', de Paco Cabezas, seleccionada en el Tribeca Film Festival|date=17 March 2011}}</ref> It opened in Argentine theatres on 21 February 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elciudadanoweb.com/carne-de-neon/|website=El Ciudadano|date=21 February 2013|title=Carne de Neón}}</ref>
== Reception == Jonathan Holland of ''Variety'' assessed that the "hugely entertaining" film "reps crude, violent, flashy and sentimental fare, but with a sharp, intelligent edge that gets it out of jail".<ref name="holland">{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/neon-flesh-1117943940/|website=Variety|title=Neon Flesh|date=27 October 2010|first=Jonathan|last=Holland}}</ref>
Jesús Palacios of ''Fotogramas'' rated the film 3 out of 5 stars highlighting the honesty of the proposal whilst pointing out its "cinephagic naivety", assessing that "however irregular it sometimes appears, [it is] one of the most refreshing Spanish films of the year".<ref name="palacios">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/peliculas-criticas/a426433/carne-de-neon/|date=28 October 2010|first=Jesús|last=Palacios|title=Carne de neón. Para amantes de la picaresca posmoderna|website=Fotogramas|author-link=Jesús Palacios Trigo}}</ref>
== See also == * List of Spanish films of 2011 * List of Argentine films of 2013
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://sede.mcu.gob.es/CatalogoICAA/en-us/Peliculas/Detalle?Pelicula=162108 ''Neon Flesh''] at ICAA's ''Catálogo de Cinespañol''
{{Paco Cabezas}} {{authority control}}
Category:2010 thriller films Category:2010 Spanish-language films Category:Films shot in Buenos Aires Category:Films shot in the province of Seville Category:Spanish thriller films Category:Argentine thriller films Category:Swedish thriller films Category:French thriller films Category:Features based on short films Category:Films directed by Paco Cabezas Category:2010 Spanish films Category:2010 French films Category:2010 Argentine films Category:2010 Swedish films