Do Revenge

Review: Do Revenge (2022)

Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson delivers a candy-colored, acid-tongued tribute to the teen icons of the 90s and early 2000s with Do Revenge. It is a film that wears its influences—Heathers, Cruel Intentions, and Mean Girls—like a vintage plaid skirt, yet it manages to feel entirely contemporary in its exploration of social currency and performative activism.

The Plot

Set at the elite Rosehill Country Day, the story centers on Drea (Camila Mendes), the dethroned “it-girl” whose social life is nuked after a private video is leaked by her “perfect” boyfriend. After a chance meeting at tennis camp, she forms an unlikely alliance with Eleanor (Maya Hawke), an awkward transfer student who was outed and ostracized based on a rumor years prior. The two forge a secret pact: they will “do” each other’s revenge. Drea will take down the person who ruined Eleanor’s life, and Eleanor will infiltrate Drea’s former inner circle to destroy those who betrayed her.

Themes: The Performance of Narcissism

The film dives deep into the “woke” posturing of Gen Z high schoolers. It satirizes a world where the most popular boy in school can be a self-proclaimed “ally” while being a covert predator. Robinson explores the fluidity of the “victim” and “villain” roles, suggesting that in the pursuit of justice, one often becomes the very monster they are trying to slay. It’s a sharp look at female friendship, the toxicity of social hierarchy, and the hollow nature of digital reputation.

Performances and Direction

Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke are a formidable duo. Mendes brings a sharp, brittle intensity to Drea, making a potentially unlikable character deeply sympathetic through sheer force of will. Hawke, conversely, is a chaotic delight, shifting between shrinking-violet vulnerability and a jagged, unpredictable energy that keeps the audience off-balance.

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s direction is confident and stylish. She understands the rhythm of the teen comedy—the slow-motion hallway walks, the devastating insults, and the inevitable makeover montage—but she infuses them with a self-aware wit that prevents the film from feeling like a mere imitation of its predecessors.

Cinematography and Style

Visually, the movie is a fever dream of pastels. The cinematography by Brian Burgoyne uses a saturated, high-contrast palette that makes every frame pop like a piece of bubblegum. The costume design is a character in itself, utilizing berets, capes, and sequins to heighten the sense of “high school as a battlefield.” The aesthetic is hyper-stylized, creating a world that feels slightly detached from reality, which suits the heightened emotional stakes of the plot.

Personal Resonance

There is a specific, vicarious thrill in watching a well-executed revenge plot, and this film delivers that in spades. What resonated most was the film’s cynicism regarding “healing.” Instead of a typical moralistic ending where everyone learns a lesson and moves on, Do Revenge leans into the messiness of being a teenager. It made me feel nostalgic for the bite of 90s cinema while making me laugh at the specific absurdities of modern internet culture.

Verdict

Do Revenge is a sharp, stylish, and surprisingly twisty addition to the teen movie canon. It’s a film that knows exactly what it is: a glossy, entertaining thriller that isn’t afraid to be a little mean.

• Who should watch: Fans of classic teen satires, anyone who appreciates a killer soundtrack (ranging from Hole to Billie Eilish), and those who love a plot twist that actually sticks the landing.

• Final thought: It’s a neon-soaked joyride through the dark side of friendship.