Only God Forgives

In the neon-lit underworld of Bangkok, Julian, played by Ryan Gosling, runs a boxing club as a front for his family's drug smuggling operation. When his brother is killed for heinous crimes, their ruthless mother Crystal, played by Kristin Scott Thomas, demands revenge. Caught in a cycle of violence and retribution, Julian must confront his inner demons while navigating the brutal criminal underworld controlled by Chang, the enigmatic police lieutenant. Only God Forgives is a visually stunning and emotionally gripping neo-noir thriller filled with dark themes of morality, guilt, and redemption.

Only God Forgives, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, polarized critics and audiences alike with its intense and stylized portrayal of crime and punishment. While some lauded the film's bold visual aesthetic and haunting atmosphere, others found it excessively violent and lacking in narrative coherence. Rotten Tomatoes' rating of 41% indicates the divided opinions, with critics praising the cinematography and Ryan Gosling's brooding performance, yet criticizing the slow pacing and graphic nature of the violence. Metacritic's score of 37/100 reflects the mixed reactions, with some reviewers calling it a masterpiece of arthouse cinema while others dismissing it as pretentious and indulgent. IMDb's rating of 5.7/10 showcases the divisive nature of Only God Forgives, with viewers either appreciating its surreal style or feeling alienated by its uncompromising approach.