“Only God Forgives” comes from the imagination of Nicolas Winding Refn, the mastermind of 2011’s “Drive” a violent, stylistic film that delves into the dark side of mankind’s consciousness and his violent tendencies. “Only God Forgives” has similar themes and preoccupations in its telling of a man (Ryan Gosling) set on avenging the murder of his brother. It takes place in Bangkok. The brother who is murdered happens to have murdered a prostitute. When the police show up to the scene of the crime, the viewers expectations are thwarted as it will be many times throughout this world of crime and revenge. The head cop is a disturbed man whose actions throughout this film are questionable given his occupation and unpredictable.
Gosling’s character’s mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) enters the picture and right from her entrance we are shown the explosive rage and sociopathic criminality that characterizes this family. She wants revenge for the murder of her first-born son and she will stop at nothing to see it through.
This film is stylistically brilliant. Everything from the music, the lighting, the cinematography, and the acting contribute to its transcendent nature. It is as violent as “Drive” and there is an element of an Oedipus complex underpinning Gosling’s character, his relationship to his mother, the family’s history, and actions in this film.
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