Every few years, the Hollywood stars align to create a truly once-in-a-generation film. With a star-studded cast, clothing design that puts the New York Fashion Week to shame and a perfect balance between throwbacks and brand new content, Netflix’s “Do Revenge” takes the gold standard for modern teen comedies.
The movie focuses mainly on Drea, a brilliant scholarship student with a taste for vengeance, and Eleanor—a rebellious rich kid bent on righting some wrongs from her past. The unlikely pair sets out to ‘do’ each others revenge. With dramatic twists and dark developments, the film takes a standard storyline and creates a witty, unexpected work of art.
Star-studded casting
Faces both familiar and brand new take to the screen in this film. Fresh off her success in the fourth season of “Stranger Things“, Maya Hawke claims the spot of co-lead next to Camilla Mendes—another promising young actress most well-known for her work in “Riverdale“. The chemistry between the two, both on screen and off, is electrifying. Each interaction in the film crackles with tension and an unspoken understanding that only comes with perfect casting.
Other familiar, young faces also appear. Included in the list are “Outer Banks’s” Jonathan Davis, Austin Abrams from Netflix’s “Euphoria” and Alisha Boe from the hit series “13 Reasons Why“. Each and every character seems to come with their own well-known name and sizable number of acting credits.
Amidst many of the newer names are some seriously decorated acting veterans. Sophie Turner—Emmy-nominated actress most well-known for her time on “Game of Thrones“—makes some brief, but memorable appearances in the movie. One of the biggest surprises, however, comes with the casting of Sarah Michelle Gellar. No stranger to teenage dramas, the “Cruel Intentions” actress makes her on-screen return to dark comedies with her appearance as the school headmaster.
Fashion forward
The film’s fashion makes a statement within the first few minutes and only strengthens the storytelling from there.
Drea, an obsessively controlling and purposeful character—appears meticulously put together the majority of the film. Only when her life begins to crash down around her does the audience begin to see stray flyaways and rumpled uniforms. Overall however, her chunky earrings, bright colors and perfectly paired statement pieces reflect the organized intensity that defines Drea.
Eleanor’s clothing transformation also helps tell her character’s story. She begins the movie as a disheveled, mismatched new student and transforms into a member of the popular group. Her clothes go from ill-fitting into sleek and stunning, but fun. Staying true to her personality, her wardrobe consists of vivid patterns and funky, statement pieces. In many ways, her fashion and attitude evolution parallels that of Cady Heron’s from “Mean Girls“. Just like the protagonist from that teen comedy, Eleanor also gets accused of changing for the worse.
Inside school walls, however, the pastel play on a traditional school uniform does a fantastic job setting the scene for exactly what to expect from the film: a seamless blend between traditional teen tropes with modern settings.
Nostalgic nods to the past
The film is riddled with references to other iconic dramedies. It presents viewers with the exciting challenge of uncovering each subtle connection.
Besides the Cady Heron-esque character arch of Eleanor, another nod to “Mean Girls” makes its way into the film. After the news of Max’s cheating scandal breaks, teenagers rage in the hallways and tear down posters. At one point, a harried teacher puts out a trash fire. All signs point to the iconic hallway fight scenes in “Mean Girls” where the North Shore teens viciously attack each other.
Another subtle reference appears on the first frame of the film. As two girls pull up to a party, their car’s license plate reads “DUMBTCH”. This provocative plate mirrors the “B****” plate from the 1999 film “Jawbreaker“. Another dark teen comedy, but this one a murder mystery, “Jawbreaker” helped set the scene for the creation of “Do Revenge” twenty-three years later.
As previously mentioned, the pastel school uniforms impeccably highlight the dystopia high school setting. However, they also pay homage to the teen comedy film of the 90s: “Clueless“. Designed by Alana Morshead, the pastel skirts, fitted sweaters, and white-collared shirts, are the perfect play off Cher and Dionne’s iconic fits.
One more fashion nod comes in the form of a familiar jacket. In a look directly reminiscent of the “Grease” pink lady jackets, Drea begins the film wearing a silky pink jacket. The rest of her girl group also sports the cute coats, all in varying pastels, but only Drea—the leader of the pack—gets the privilege of pink. After her fall from popularity, however, the jacket disappears.
Thoroughly modern machinations
One of the many things this film does right is place its iconic tropes in a modern setting. Although many of the characters, scenes and outfits look backwards in time, the plot roots itself in the period of its creation.
The movie plays with ideas of environmental justice, with a nod towards young activist, Greta Thunberg. It even references the recent crusade against plastic straws.
It also strongly focuses on the performative aspect of activism in general, but more specifically modern feminism. Max—the movie’s rich, white boy—represents the more modern trope of the woke feminist man. The film brilliantly reveals the less appealing layers underneath the character’s activism. Max’s misogyny is set on full display, and his progressive performance falls to shambles.
The film also features a gay main character whose storyline is not defined entirely by trauma. Eleanor’s thirst for revenge stems from a rumor about her trying to kiss another girl, but being outed is not the issue; ultimately, she is upset about being painted as a predator. Unlike recent teen films, this one does not center on outing a character in a traumatic manner. Her sexuality is simply a part of her identity, and she gets to explore it without fear of repercussion.
Likewise, to mirror the views of the film’s younger audience, the plot shines a positive light on open relationships. The movie discusses sex and sexuality in a positive manner, and it even tackles more difficult conversations about victim-blaming and sexual harassment.
Furthermore, “Do Revenge” explores thematic elements relevant to its target generation. It uses irony and understanding to both poke fun at them, but also delve into deeper topics that concern younger people.
A perfect picture
Casting, wardrobe and content aside, director Jennifer Kayten Robinson also rocks the movie’s cinematography. Her innovative camera angles and varied set designs create some incredible shots.
The film plays around a lot with symmetry. The varying levels of perfection and calculated chaos help tell a story. A Wes Anderson-esque frame of Drea front and center surrounded by rows of her classmates mirrors the perfectionist front she wears in public. Robinson uses similar structured shots to film more public scenes.
However, the camera helps see past Drea’s hard exterior with more relaxed frames. Still including symmetrical elements, the film shows a certain shot where Drea lies alone in the women’s bathroom. She sits draped across a window, to the side of the frame, while Eleanor peaks in. The entire image appears more relaxed than the rigid images of Drea in public, and it helps give insight into her true character.
A soundtrack for the ages
The cherry on top of the multi-flavor, three-level, sprinkles, chocolate sauce, banana-split sundae is the soundtrack. “Do Revenge” delivers on all other fronts, which means that it must include a killer soundtrack.
The movie starts off strong with Hayley Kiyoko’s “For the Girls” and only builds from there. It includes recent hits, like Olivia Rodrigo’s “brutal” and Billie Eilish’s “Happier than Ever“. It even features a passionate kiss between two girls to MUNA’s “Silk Chiffon“. Talk about inspired.
The inclusion of 90s bops like “Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey Danger, and Meredith Brooks’s “B****” strengthens the throwback theme.
The film ultimately ends with a bang as “Dreams” by The Cranberries rocks in the background.
Wrap-up
Ultimately, “Do Revenge”, with its perfect casting, relevant topics and incredible design elements, becomes the dark teen comedy this generation needed. It hits all the marks it had to, and then some, and presents its audience with a fun storyline that, although familiar, still manages to be fresh.
“Do Revenge” is 2022’s must-watch movie.
