Review of Revenge (2017) by Teddywyman — 16 May 2018

I found it very disheartening to read a lot of comments on the trailer for this movie decrying it as "feminist propaganda" and claiming that the same story with reversed gender roles would cause riots in the streets.

I decided to give it a go, and I must say that while imperfect, it is very good both as a technical piece, as well as a feminist message. As a technical piece, I think that it has a very unique and defined style that might turn some people off, but is overall quite enjoyable.

It actually isn't that fast-paced, but when the action picks up it is very well executed and suspenseful. There is minimal dialogue, and so a lot of the allure comes from the acting (which is stellar - so much of the film relies on body language and facial expressions in order to communicate, not just dialogue), and from the overall aesthetic of the film.

The dry, hot, seemingly endless desert is a perfect backdrop, and we really get a sense of the desperation that all the characters feel. Again, it did lag in some parts, but they were few and far between, and the action was very well executed.

I would say the style is roughly similar to a movie like Drive: color palettes, cinematography, and minimal dialogue all contribute to the visual storytelling, and it could even be described as minimalist.

As a feminist message, I felt this movie truly excelled. This part of the review partially works to refute some of the criticisms I've heard, many of which come from people who haven't even seen the movie, only the trailer! Basically, the three male characters are very humanized.

That is to say that many of us - myself included - know men who exhibit some of the characteristics that these men exhibit. I also think the film does a good job of making each male character very different from the other two, and so they all have their own version of misogyny that is distinct, yet still very common in society.

I am a man, and cannot speak to how women interact with men, but I am guessing that many women have had interactions quite similar to the interactions that the female protagonist has with the male characters.

Thus, it was very realistic, but it wasn't there for the sake of it. Each character has a purpose, and role within the story, and it reflects the many kinds of sexism that women have to deal with. One criticism has been that the film is not realistic, and if you watch the trailer you would know why (and I will admit, in real life someone probably wouldn't survive such a fall).

But I think that this is a really flimsy argument, and something you don't see much of with other movies. I've seen a short video describing how there are some 10 instances in Die Hard when John McClane, had he been a real person, would have died - but we don't care, because it's an action movie and it's exciting and the point of the story isn't to be a documentary, but rather to have us grip the edge of our seats throughout.

This movie is the same: It isn't trying to be a documentary, and it knows that it is somewhat sensationalizing the actions on the screen. The fact of the matter is that many women are not only assaulted, but they are ignored, or are silenced, and are bullied for what they have been through.

This film not only shows how truly debilitating that is, and how frustrating it is to have so many men working to drag them down, but also how it takes an immense amount of pain tolerance and willpower to overcome it, and achieve justice.

It is not just the literal story of a woman seeking revenge on her attackers, but it is a visual representation of what so many survivors of assault go through in a non-literal sense. The protagonist is incredibly strong, resilient, and intelligent.

She does things I could never do simply because I am too weak. And sadly, there are many women who are unable to fight back the way that she does, for a whole multitude of reasons, many of which have a lot more to do with systems of oppression, and not the qualities of said woman.

I see no reason why this woman should not be praised - she is raped, left for dead, alone, and she does not give up. Anyone who does not cheer for that has something wrong with them, in my opinion. Obviously, you do not /have/ to like this movie.

There are many people who I'm sure have very legitimate complaints about its style, pacing, lack of dialogue, etc. However, I thought it was a very well-made film, and I think that if you are a feminist like I am you should definitely watch it.

It has some very interesting ideas for a film with so little to the story, and I think a lot of people could learn a little bit if they watched this film. Even if you are not a feminist, you might just enjoy the movie as a heart-racing rape and revenge thriller flick, and you might get a better understanding as to why so many of us view feminism as so important.