Review of Revenge (2017) by John M — 19 Aug 2018

Rubbed wrong. So this is about a mistress (Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz). She and her lover (Kevin Janssens) have traveled via helicopter to his remote house in the middle of the desert for a weekend getaway.

When two of his hunting buddies drop by, things take a turn for the violent. Going into this, I knew that this had a bit of festival buzz behind it, but other than that, I watched this very cold. I hadn't even watched a trailer, so I could really be walking into anything for all I knew.

Well, I suppose not every acclaimed movie can be a winner, because I kind of hated everything that this film was about to its core. There is a lot that unnerved me about this movie, and not in the good horror type of way.

This is essentially a modern sexploitation film, which is weird to watch in the year 2018. I think what bothered me the most about this is it is a movie that wants to have it both ways; the opening of this might have well been shot by Michael Bay, because this spends the majority of the first fifteen minutes up this girl's ass.

On a base level, I suppose I am not complaining, but the name of this movie is Revenge, so you know that other shoe is about to drop. She then (inexplicably) transforms into a badass avenging angel, which would be one thing, but they continue to film her in a manner that fetishizes her.

I felt like I watched a woman be objectified for 90 minutes, and this is way closer to I Spit on Your Grave than it is Kill Bill. The only two nice things I have to say about this is that it is shot well and it is not boring, but that is about it.

It has music video sensibilities, and if I am saying that, you may be able to guess that there is some not-so-subtle imagery, as cuts and punctures happen throughout. There are even moments that the filmmaker is cruel to insects, which was not something I expected to be complaining about.

There are lots of gaps in logic and plot points that don't make sense in this misguided game of hunted-turned-hunter, and I actively disliked this from start to finish.