DO REVENGE on Netflix is a dark comedy about (you guessed it!) revenge. Some twists along the way give it a Hitchcockian vibe. Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke headline a wonderful cast. Also, the soundtrack is awesome. Read our Do Revenge movie review here!

DO REVENGE is a new Netflix revenge movie. This one is a very dark comedy with a Mean Girls vibe, lots of pop culture references, social commentary, and a few Hitchcockian twists.

The cast is led by Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke who deliver exactly the amount of heart and sass needed for their characters. Also, I have to mention the soundtrack which I will definitely be listening to. Lots of ’90s hits and some newer songs to keep it current.

Continue reading our Do Revenge movie review below. The film premieres on Netflix on September 16, 2022.

Let’s do revenge!

The story in Do Revenge is told by two narrators. It should come as no surprise that these two are the main protagonist – and yes, also the two seeking revenge. To be fair, they both have very fair and valid reasons for revenge.

Especially because those who have hurt them, get away with no repercussions. Or rather, they almost thrive despite their terrible actions. You won’t have to follow many news stories to recognize that this is taken from the very real world we live in.

We get stuck playing roles and trying to hurt those who hurt us, but to what end?! Will revenge make us feel better?

Maybe not. But, in some cases, Hell yes!

While revenge is the core plot driver, so is friendship and trying to find out who you are. And maybe more importantly, who you want to be. All very important and big questions that many of us will in no way be able to answer while in our teens. And yet, this is what kids are still required to do. The pressure really is insane!

That’s why Maya Hawke’s character has an emotional support animal. A lizard named “Oscar Winner Oliva Colman”. Yes, that’s the full name of her cute bearded dragon!

Do Revenge – Review | Netflix Dark Comedy

Maya Hawke and Camila Mendes are perfect!

Social commentary really is a key part of the story in Do Revenge. This also means that no one is entirely good or bad (something we also see in most South Korean stories, as well as great comedies from the US).

Maya Hawke (Stranger Things) and Camila Mendes (Riverdale) are perfect in their portrayals of two girls seeking revenge to move on. They are not entirely good – if they were, they wouldn’t be focused on revenge – nor are they entirely bad. They do have valid reasons for wanting revenge. And also, for needing it to move on!

And sure, many of the other supporting roles, in particular, are very stereotypical. But if you spend a little time at any high school, you’ll quickly recognize the patterns shown here. Are they exaggerated? Well, yeah, this is a very polished story. But also, not as exaggerated as you might think.

In other key roles, some very small and some larger, we see lots of familiar faces. From the iconic Sarah Michelle Gellar, playing The Headmaster of this very upper-class school, to Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) playing a very rich and very loud and bitchy type. Both are clearly having fun here!

Also, Austin Abrams (Euphoria) is the typical rich, white, CIS young man, whose brand is being so woke and politically correct, but it’s clearly an act. In other roles, we see Talia Ryder (Master), Rish Shah (Years and Years), and Ava Capri (The Experience).

Watch Do Revenge on Netflix now!

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson is the director and co-writer of Do Revenge. This is her second feature film – she debuted in 2019 with the Netflix movie Someone Great. She also wrote the screenplay for Thor: Love and Thunder with Taiki Waititi.

Also, the HBO Max movie Unpregnant (2020) which gives a good indication of the darker humor combined with real issues. The co-writer is Celeste Ballard who has worked mostly on TV series. One of them is the MTV production Sweet/Vicious which also has a revenge (or vigilante) theme.

Honestly, I love camp and kitsch movies with a retro vibe. I also absolutely loved the ending. Both the twists and turns of the final act and the actual ending. In the true iconic ’90s teen movie style, we get a nice follow-up on all the key characters. I’m a sucker for those things and fully acknowledge that it’s a bit corny, but it’s also classic 90s.

In other words, perfect for the vibe in Do Revenge!

Now, I’m off to listen to the awesome 90s-inspired soundtrack from this very dark Netflix comedy. There’s a playlist on Spotify right here if you also want to sing along to Meredith Brooks’ “Bitch” at the top of your lungs!

Do Revenge is on Netflix globally from September 16, 2022.

Details

Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Writers: Celeste Ballard and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Cast: Camila Mendes, Maya Hawke, Austin Abrams, Rish Shah, Talia Ryder, Jonathan Daviss, Maia Reficco, Paris Berelc, Alisha Boe, Sophie Turner

Plot

Drea (Camila Mendes) is at the peak of her high school powers as the Alpha it-girl on campus when her entire life goes up in flames after her sex tape gets leaked to the whole school, seemingly by her boyfriend and king of the school, Max (Austin Abrams). Eleanor (Maya Hawke) is an awkward new transfer student who is angered to find out that she now has to go to school with her old bully, Carissa (Ava Capri) who started a nasty rumor about her in summer camp when they were 13. After a clandestine run-in at tennis camp, Drea and Eleanor form an unlikely and secret friendship to get revenge on each other’s tormentors.

I write reviews and recaps on Heaven of Horror. And yes, it does happen that I find myself screaming, when watching a good horror movie. I love psychological horror, survival horror and kick-ass women. Also, I have a huge soft spot for a good horror-comedy. Oh yeah, and I absolutely HATE when animals are harmed in movies, so I will immediately think less of any movie, where animals are harmed for entertainment (even if the animals are just really good actors). Fortunately, horror doesn't use this nearly as much as comedy. And people assume horror lovers are the messed up ones. Go figure!
Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard
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