first of all, viewers must know that refn doesn't do regular hollywood stuff. this film lasted for 1 hour 25 minutes, and i feel like i was dreaming the entire time. it's surreal, shot in colours not found in harsh real life but that doesn't mean the dream is any less violent. i recalled david lynch in particular. the movie follows ryan gosling, as the drug dealer in the seedy muay thai hole in bangkok. he seems emotionless, lacking the will to do anything - to confront his mother's insult, to avenge his brother's death, to fight against the police who his hunting him down. perhaps it is his reaction to an environment of extremes - it's better not to feel anything in order to remain unaffected.
