A new UK trailer for Nicolas Winding Refn‘s Only God Forgives arrived over the weekend. Complete with killer soundtrack, it’s the coolest, most stylish piece of promo yet…for a film that will ooze both.

Kirsten Scott Thomas’ narration gives context to the story of Julian (Ryan Gosling), an exile and owner of a Bangkok Thai Boxing gym that fronts for his family’s drug business. When an ex-policeman called ‘The Angel of Vengeance’ (Vithaya Pansringarm) murders his brother, Julian’s crime boss Mum (Scott Thomas) forces him to seek bloody revenge.

Since its debut at Cannes this year Only God Forgives has divided critics. It’s “a mesmerising masterpiece” according to Little White Lies. “Breathtaking” gasps The Guardian. But others have been less than kind. Hollywood Elsewhere‘s Jeffery Woods proclaimed “It’s a sh– macho fantasy — hyperviolent, ethically repulsive, sad, nonsensical, deathly dull, snail-paced, idiotic, possibly woman-hating, visually suffocating, pretentious”. Don’t hold back mate…tell us what you really think!

We get to choose our side of the fence when Only God Forgives opens on 1 August. Meanwhile, check out the new trailer:

A film that divides people is better than pandering to every audience and satisfying none. Only God Forgives continues to tick all the boxes for me, and this trailer ups my excitement further.

This has the ultra-cool vibe of Refn’s last outing Drive, slathered over Asian gangster flick roots – one of my favourite sub-genres. Can’t wait to see it.

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Will you be joining me in the cinema for this?

Julian (Gosling) lives in exile in Bangkok where he runs a Thai boxing club as a front for the family’s drugs smuggling operation. When Julian’s brother Billy is killed their mother, Jenna (Scott Thomas), arrives in the city. She wants revenge and forces Julian to find the killer. Julian’s contacts in the criminal underworld lead him directly to The Angel of Vengeance, a retired police officer who knows everything and who is both Judge and Punisher. Jenna demands that Julian kill The Angel of Vengeance, an act that will cost him dearly.

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, the film stars Ryan Gosling, Kristen Scott Thomas, Tom Burke, Yayaying, Sahajak Boonthanakit, and Vithaya Pansringarm.

Only God Forgives opens 1 August, 2013.