Nicolas Winding Refn's follow-up to "Drive" takes him further away from traditional plot and deeper into abstract expressionism. His painter's eye makes "Only God Forgives" something beautiful to behold, awash in deep reds and geometric, carefully thought-out shot compositions.
But what his film amounts to, in the end, is the careful work of a serial killer. Refn isn't literally killing women, but he's indulging in one bloody killing after another, and practically licking the knife afterwards. The crowd here in Cannes clapped enthusiastically. It will be a runaway favorite of the art house crowd, no doubt.
Also read: Ryan Gosling's 'Only God Forgives': Critics Really, Really Hate the Crime Drama
Ryan Gosling is given even less dialogue in "Only God Forgives" than he had in "Drive," where he also played an ambient hottie automaton.