The Netflix original, “Do Revenge,” was recently released on Sept. 16. This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to know what’s coming next with its trendy, dark and comedic tone.
“Stranger Things” star Maya Hawke and “Riverdale” star Camila Mendes work together as Eleanor and Drea, two senior girls, who team up to seek revenge on their tormentors. Drea wants to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend, Max, played by Austin Abrams, who leaked a very private video of her to the whole school, making her lose her “Queen B” status and all her friends. On the other hand, Eleanor wants to get back at a girl who accused her of doing something when they were children that ruined her life.
The two decide to ‘do revenge’ after meeting in a school restroom. They tell each other their stories of how they were wronged and make an agreement to complete each others’ revenge.
One element of the movie that was really interesting and brought a lot of drama is that there’s not just one big plot twist that completely changes the story, but two. These plot twists come out of nowhere and don’t just leave the viewers shocked, but the characters as well.
In addition to this, the film features amazing outfits. The ideas of costume designer Alana Morshead have the film stylized in a Y2K meets ‘90s “Clueless” type of aesthetic. They use light pastels for some of the outfits, but Robinson also manages to include bright pops of color such as vibrant oranges and shades of fuschia that make the characters stand out in a fashionable yet subtle way.
Watching Drea and Eleanor’s friendship progress was a highlight of the movie. In the beginning, after they agreed to “do revenge” on the people they used to love, they spent every second of every day together, determined to get revenge on the people who hurt them. Their friendship was what most teenage girls aspire for: trust, realness and to have fun while also helping you get through rough times in life. Their friendship is key in the movie, with also having a twist at the end of the movie that could possibly ruin it all.
My only complaint is how unrealistic the storyline is for Max. He creates a school club called “Cis Hetero Men Championing Female-Identifying Students League” because he sees himself as the victim of Drea’s video getting out, even though he released it. Although I do understand they added it to the storyline to make his character more unlikeable, I just think it wouldn’t make sense in any school setting no matter how wealthy the student is. It made the plot appear kind of ridiculous and not comical.
Despite this minor flaw I think “Do Revenge” provides an interesting story that leaves you needing to know more at the end. “Do Revenge” has everything you could need for an exciting plot, blending horror with comedy, which is rare to see so perfectly combined. It captures so many relatable and funny experiences most people go through in high school drama and makes for an entertaining watch.
