Only God Forgives (2013) is a hypnotic, violent, and visually mesmerizing psychological crime drama directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. Starring Ryan Gosling and Kristin Scott Thomas, the film explores themes of vengeance, guilt, and divine punishment within the neon-drenched underworld of Bangkok.
Detailed Summary
Bangkok’s Underworld and Julian’s Business
Julian (Ryan Gosling) runs a Muay Thai boxing club in Bangkok, which serves as a front for his family’s drug operation. He lives quietly, detached from the brutality around him, until his older brother Billy murders a 16-year-old prostitute in a violent act of rage.
The Arrival of the Enforcer: Chang
Enter Chang (Vithaya Pansringarm), a stoic and mysterious police lieutenant who operates as a godlike force of retribution. After discovering Billy’s crime, Chang allows the victim’s father to take revenge by killing Billy. Once the father has done so, Chang punishes him by cutting off his arm—restoring “balance” in his own sense of divine justice.
The Mother from Hell
Julian’s mother, Crystal (Kristin Scott Thomas), arrives in Bangkok from the U.S. after Billy’s death. She’s vulgar, domineering, and terrifyingly manipulative—a femme fatale disguised as a grieving mother. Crystal demands that Julian avenge his brother, mocking him for his perceived weakness. Their relationship is highly disturbing, filled with Freudian overtones and emotional cruelty.
The Silent Conflict
Julian reluctantly begins investigating Chang, but his hesitation infuriates his mother. As Chang continues to deliver brutal justice throughout the criminal world, Julian becomes increasingly entranced by him—almost as if he sees Chang as a godlike mirror of his own repressed violence.
Chang’s Divine Retribution
Chang hunts down everyone involved in the cover-up of Billy’s death, including Crystal’s associates. His method is ruthless but methodical. He interrogates, tortures, and kills, all under the guise of moral balance. Meanwhile, Julian’s attempts to confront Chang are marked by dreamlike sequences and suppressed rage.
Movie Ending
In the climactic sequence, Julian and Chang finally face each other in a brutal hand-to-hand fight. Despite Julian’s training and anger, Chang effortlessly defeats him—completely dismantling him physically and spiritually. The scene feels less like a brawl and more like divine punishment.
Afterward, Chang visits Crystal at her hotel and kills her in a shocking and symbolic act of retribution. When Julian finds her body, he doesn’t cry or scream; he silently accepts it, as if recognizing that justice—twisted as it may be—has been served.
In one of the most haunting final scenes, Julian kneels before Chang and presents his hands, allowing Chang to pierce them with a sword, mirroring a Christ-like gesture of atonement. The film ends with a surreal quietness—Julian’s redemption, if you can call it that, comes not through revenge but submission.
There are no post-credits scenes, just the lingering, eerie sound of silence and ambient score as the screen fades to black—leaving viewers in deep contemplation (and maybe mild existential dread).
Type of Movie
Only God Forgives is a psychological crime thriller and art-house neo-noir. It’s a slow, meditative exploration of violence, morality, and guilt rather than a traditional revenge story.
Cast
- Ryan Gosling as Julian
- Kristin Scott Thomas as Crystal
- Vithaya Pansringarm as Chang
- Yayaying Rhatha Phongam as Mai
- Tom Burke as Billy
Film Music and Composer
The haunting, atmospheric score was composed by Cliff Martinez, who also worked with Refn on Drive. The music blends dark electronic tones with ethereal choral sounds, creating a dreamlike, almost religious atmosphere that perfectly complements the film’s neon visuals and moral themes.
Filming Locations
The film was shot entirely in Bangkok, Thailand, using real locations such as back alleys, boxing arenas, and nightclubs. The setting is integral to the story—it’s not just a backdrop but a living, breathing part of the narrative. The oppressive heat, neon lights, and narrow corridors mirror the characters’ psychological confinement and inner decay.
Awards and Nominations
While Only God Forgives polarized critics and audiences, it earned nominations at major festivals such as Cannes 2013, where it competed for the Palme d’Or. The film also received nominations for its cinematography and soundtrack in several independent awards.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Nicolas Winding Refn and Ryan Gosling developed the story together, inspired by the idea of a man seeking “spiritual punishment.”
- Gosling barely speaks in the film—he has fewer than 20 lines of dialogue, emphasizing mood over exposition.
- Kristin Scott Thomas based her performance on a mix of Lady Macbeth and Donatella Versace.
- Refn stated that the film is about “the male struggle against the idea of God and the mother figure.”
- The director was living in Bangkok with his family during production, which influenced the film’s claustrophobic tone.
Inspirations and References
Refn cited Greek tragedy, Buddhist philosophy, and fairy tales as key inspirations. The film’s structure resembles a moral fable rather than a traditional crime story. It also draws on Western and Eastern religious iconography, particularly the idea of divine punishment.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
A few scenes were trimmed from the final cut, mostly dialogue sequences between Julian and Mai. Refn reportedly considered a longer ending where Julian explicitly dies, but decided the silent, ambiguous finale was more powerful and poetic.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The film is not based on a book, but rather an original concept by Nicolas Winding Refn. However, its visual language and symbolic storytelling style evoke literary references to Dostoevsky and Oedipus Rex.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Billy’s shocking murder and Chang’s “eye for an eye” punishment.
- Julian’s surreal fight with Chang, shot in slow motion with operatic music.
- Crystal’s dinner scene, where she humiliates Julian in front of Mai.
- Julian standing in front of a mirror, covered in blood, silently accepting his fate.
- The final scene of Julian offering his hands to Chang.
Iconic Quotes
- Crystal: “I’m sure he’s bigger than yours.”
- Julian: “Wanna fight?”
- Chang: (calmly before executing justice) “Time to meet the devil.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Chang’s sword represents divine justice—he only uses it to balance moral scales.
- The karaoke scenes symbolize judgment and reflection; each performance follows an act of violence.
- The recurring motif of hands reflects guilt, sin, and the human desire for cleansing.
- The film’s title, Only God Forgives, foreshadows its message: forgiveness is divine, but humans are too flawed to grant it.
Trivia
- Ryan Gosling described the film as “a film about silence, not speech.”
- The movie’s lighting setup took longer than most scenes to shoot because every frame was designed like a painting.
- Nicolas Winding Refn is colorblind, which partially explains the film’s heavy use of red and blue tones.
- The fight between Julian and Chang was choreographed to look deliberately one-sided—Gosling’s character was never meant to win.
Why Watch?
Watch Only God Forgives if you love stylized, poetic filmmaking that prioritizes atmosphere over plot. It’s not for everyone—it’s slow, violent, and cryptic—but if you appreciated Drive and Neon Demon, this is Refn at his most unapologetically artistic.
Director’s Other Movies
- Drive (2011)
- The Neon Demon (2016)
- Bronson (2008)
- Valhalla Rising (2009)
- Pusher (1996)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Drive (2011)
- The Neon Demon (2016)
- Taxi Driver (1976)
- You Were Never Really Here (2017)
- Blue Velvet (1986)
- The Killer (2023)
