Do Revenge, released on Netflix mid-September, has become a hit with audiences. The movie, written by Celeste Ballard and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, follows two teenage girls who decide to get revenge on people that have wronged them. To do so, the girls plot to exact vengeance on each others’ enemies to minimize the chance of getting caught. The flick stars Camila Mendes (known for Riverdale) as Drea, and Maya Hawke (known for Stranger Things) as Eleanor.
I loved this movie. Three out of four of my favorite movies are of the “chick flick” variety. While this could easily be placed in said genre, it also differs quite a bit — the soundtrack being one of the best I’ve heard in a long time — it would be silly to pretend that this movie was perfect, with strong highs and awkward lows. However, despite its faults, Do Revenge sticks the landing for an overall enjoyable viewing experience. For every corny line uttered by a character (a reminder that older generations still do not understand Gen-Z) there is another that perfectly encapsulates what makes this generation’s movies so good. The chemistry between the two leads is dynamite. Occasionally awkward dialogue lands even when it shouldn’t. Hawke’s delivery of the word “glennergy” is not something I ever planned on constantly being played on loop in my head, yet I am not mad that it is.
The costume department and cameos steal the show (Ex: Sophie Turner’s quick role leaving audiences wanting more). No real life teenager would be wearing these extravagant clothes, which serves as a callback to how previous chick flicks have fashioned their characters. Drea is the most clear example of this, as we see her outfits become more outrageous the more her plans unravel within the film. Additionally, seeing how Eleanor develops an edgier style the more her character is fleshed out is really satisfying. Another win for this movie is the soundtrack that is full of smash hits from The Cranberries to Olivia Rodrigo. Each song in the movie was utilized in a great way, and I hope whoever created this soundtrack got a huge raise at Netflix.
The movie is full of homages to movies such as Clueless, Mean Girls, and Heathers. Do Revenge is a campy Netflix film that wears its imperfections with pride, proudly paying homage to its influences. During my watch I was even reminded how weird previous teen movies have been, particularly when Sarah Michelle Gellar’s character invokes her Cruel Intentions part (I actually gasped seeing this icon return to the screen). The homages never seem like they are trying to rip off the movies that have come before them, just simply honor them.
As previously mentioned, the chemistry between Mendes and Hawke is really what makes this movie so great, and it really helps the audience support such unlikable characters. The two protagonists are terrible people. Personally, I am a fan of unlikable protagonists. They lead the audience to be torn between rooting for them while also waiting for the penny to drop over their toxicity.
The film’s faults lie in the sometimes convoluted plot, alongside a predictable twist. This development feels cheap and last minute, and should have happened earlier in the movie or not all. It doesn’t so much as pull the rug from under the viewers feet, but instead loses a bit of steam half-way through.
Do Revenge explores something near and dear to my heart: feminine rage. Both protagonists have incredibly valid motivations for getting revenge, and the movie never indicates that they should feel bad about their feelings. The movie does a well rounded job of balancing celebrating the girls’ rage with criticizing how they exactly go about their revenge. This is refreshing considering most movies with similar plots end up with the feminine rage being pushed aside in order for the characters to gain forgiveness. Here they are validated in their feelings but not their actions. The last few scenes before the credits roll do not turn the leads into the good guys, but validates them instead. With the last twist (there are a couple) audiences may be prone to pump their fist The Breakfast Club style. Well, at least I did.
Overall, the movie is an easy watch if you are a fan of movie characters being horrible people, aesthetically pleasing moments, and getting any cool song from the last two decades stuck in your head. Cozy up, turn on Netflix, and Do Revenge.
Eva Davey is a UFV student majoring in English Literature and minoring in Media Communications. She is a fan of poetry, oat milk lattes, and the final girl trope. Currently, her worst enemy is the Good Reads app.
