Revenge is a new, dark take on the industry standard of revenge. It has a fresh – albeit a bit dark – twist that even manages to indulge itself in relevant competing ideas about gender differences and patriarchy.
Another good movie with a similar tone you must check out is Honor Society, starring Angourie Rice. Many parts of Do Revenge reminded me of it, although the two projects take different paths. Do Revenge revolves around an ironic friendship struck between two girls burning up with revenge fever. Drea (Camilla Mendes) is in perfectenschlag. She couldn’t write a better underdog story for herself. But it all comes crashing down when her ex-boyfriend (formerly not ‘ex’) leaks a “private video” she sent him.
Drea, a popular and popular-looking girl at school, is punched by Max, a big deal with a rich father, in front of the entire school. Tennis camp followed by community service in the winters awaits Drea.
The writing in Do Revenge is certainly above average. That is its main USP, something that most of its peers usually don’t have. Neither is the narrative one-dimensional nor predictable, but the characters also have great personalities. They are well fleshed out and developed to some end. A lot of attention is given to their arches, carefully constructed within the plot itself. ..
The interviewees are engaging and interesting to listen to because their dialogue is well-crafted and tailored to the needs of the story. Most of it is based on fact, which makes for an interesting read. Their interactions are also enjoyable to listen to, as they seem like a fun group of people who enjoy each other’s company. It’s easy to see why they would make great team members.
The characters in this novel are engaging and well-drawn, but the plot is a bit too realistic for my taste. The author does a good job of showing the reader the way ahead, however.
Despite all of its changes from the ordinary teen movie formula, Do Revenge never loses its peppy vibe that makes these genre films so easy to watch. It still remains a flick about two teenage girls looking for their way in life and finding handling their emotions difficult. One wonderful thing that the writers avoid is giving it a coming-of-an-age turn midway. There are innumerable projects in the past that have taken refuge in this allied archetype over the years to give a semblance of sincerity. Do Revenge sets off on its own path from the start and tows the line until the very end. The ensemble performance is mostly well-rounded. The screenplay admirably identifies its priorities and director Jennifer Robinson uses her resources accordingly.
Some wayward feminist undertones prove to be annoying in “The Hate U Give.” Their presence seems to stem from an imposed obligation that the film did not want to take on. The thought process probably was to use it in making the story more inclusive, and multi-dimensional, and to appease certain factions of the audience. The unnecessary love angle between Drea and Russ (Rish Shah, who recently featured in Disney’s Ms. Marvel) took valuable time away that could have been better spent. One unfulfilled string was the unexplored relationship between Eleanor and Gabbi (Talia Ryder from Never Rarely Sometimes Always)which could have been something special. The lack of screen time for someone as talented as Ryder was disappointing. ..
The film’s near-perfect synchronization between all departments gives us an end product that is worth remembering and maybe even rewatching. Even if the twist with Shyamalan wasn’t there, the story would have needed no saving. It would have still sailed through as a bitter-sweet saga between two formidable friends and foes: Camilla Mendez and Maya Hawke lead the pack with genuine turns, understanding their characters quite well. ..
Do Revenge is a smart, modern take on Hitchcock’s classic idea of two strangers meeting and setting themselves on a revealing journey. It is also a contender for popular choice awards.
