2. Gorgeous Visuals
If there's anything we can count on Nicolas Winding Refn for, even if the plot turns out to be a flop this time, it's his absolutely stupendous visual style. Drive's main selling point wasn't its story - which borrowed from countless thrillers and action films over the years - but its style, combining the fine selection of music with great performances and mouth-watering visuals. Los Angeles has rarely looked so intriguing, at times sun-kissed and at others woefully bleak, cementing the dark heart of this film. Only God Forgives looks set to do justice to another famous location; has Bangkok ever looked this gorgeous? Refn seems to have soaked just about every location in brilliant neon lighting, which helps accentuate the seediness of it all, and give the whole place a very otherworldly feel. Plus, the almost complete lack of day-time scenes makes it clear that this is a film noir in the strictest sense.