Nicolas Winding Refn’s Only God Forgives gets first still and official synopsis

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Earlier this morning, Marcey brought you the very cool news that Nicolas Winding Refn’s follow-up to DRIVE, titled ONLY GOD FORGIVES, was on the verge of getting picked up for domestic distribution by Radius-TWC, even though it has just commenced production in Thailand. A great update for those of us who can’t wait to see what Refn and Gosling have up their sleeves next…

Hopefully, it’s not too early for another update on the flick! The official website of Wild Bunch, the sales company handling ONLY GOD FORGIVES, has the first still from the film. It’s small and low-res, but will have to suffice for the moment. (And, naturally, it’s of a brooding Gosling, because brood is what he does best.)

In addition, the site has posted a more detailed synopsis than the one we already had. Read on, although you may want to be wary of spoilers.

Bangkok. Ten years ago Julian killed a cop and went on the run. Now he manages a Thai boxing club as a front for a drugs operation. Respected in the criminal underworld, deep inside, he feels empty.

When Julian’s brother murders a prostitute the police call on retired cop Chang – the Angel of Vengeance. Chang allows the father to kill his daughter’s murderer, then ‘restores order’ by chopping off the man’s right hand.

Julian’s mother Jenna – the head of a powerful criminal organization – arrives in Bangkok to collect her son’s body. She dispatches Julian to find his killers and ‘raise hell’.

Increasingly obsessed with the Angel of Vengeance, Julian challenges him to a boxing match, hoping that by defeating him he might find spiritual release… but Chang triumphs. A furious Jenna plots revenge and the stage is set for a bloody journey through betrayal and vengeance towards a final confrontation and the possibility of redemption.

Sounds intense! In addition to Gosling, ONLY GOD FORGIVES stars Kristen Scott Thomas and Taiwanese singer Yayaying (pictured below).