Only God Forgives

Julian, an expatriate living in Bangkok, runs a Thai boxing club as a front for his drug trafficking operation. After his brother is murdered, Julian's mother, Crystal, arrives to retrieve the body and exact revenge. This sets Julian on a violent collision course with a retired police lieutenant known only as 'The Angel of Vengeance'.

Only God Forgives received largely negative reviews from critics, with many finding its violence gratuitous and its narrative underdeveloped. However, some praised its striking visual style and Refn's uncompromising vision, though this was often outweighed by criticisms of its bleakness and excessive gore.

• Praised for its distinctive visual aesthetic and directorial ambition.

• Criticized for its extreme violence and perceived lack of substance or coherent narrative.

• Seen by some as an artistic statement, by others as self-indulgent and unpleasant.

Google audience: Google users were divided, with many disliking the film's intense violence and bleak themes. Some appreciated its artistic qualities and Ryan Gosling's performance, but the majority found it disturbing and unsatisfying.

Nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

Kristin Scott Thomas's character, Crystal, was originally written as a man but was changed to a woman specifically for Scott Thomas after director Nicolas Winding Refn saw her in a magazine and felt she embodied the ruthless maternal figure he envisioned.