DESPITE its über-stylised 21st-century direction, Drive – which is released on DVD this week – harks back to previous eras of film-making, writes Lee Trewhela.

One of 2011's best movies, Drive is the story of a Hollywood stunt driver (an enigmatic Ryan Gosling) who happens to steer getaway vehicles for armed heists on the side.

He falls in love with neighbour Irene (Carey Mulligan), a vulnerable young mother dragged into a dangerous underworld by her ex-convict husband.

Things soon career out of control and both are mixed up with crime bosses Ron "Hellboy" Perlman and Albert Brooks (Taxi Driver, Broadcast News). Brooks is particularly effective as the kind but deadly Bernie Rose – in one chilling scene he smiles at a rival then stabs him in the throat, whispering serenely: "Don't worry, it's over. There's no pain."

Directed with aplomb by Nicolas Winding Refn, who also helmed the superb Bronson and the Pusher trilogy, Drive is basically a modern western.

Gosling is the quiet loner, going to any lengths to protect the woman he loves. There's not a little Shane influence here.

The pumped-up feel of 1980s' thrillers is also cleverly contained in Drive's ultraviolence, banging synth pop soundtrack and glistening LA cityscapes.

The juxtaposition of an almost naive love story (the furtive smiles between Gosling and Mulligan crackle ferociously) and the bursts of unremitting violence hit hard.

Gosling is fantastic – uttering few words, his stoic performance recalls the golden age of Hollywood.

The perfect DVD to take your mind off Saturday night trash TV.