Published by Mason Oldridge, 28 September 2022
CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Lead stars Camila Mendez and Maya Hawke both deserve praise for their roles in Netflix’s latest hit movie Do Revenge.
The high-school film sees popular girl Drea team up with social outcast Eleanor to exact revenge on each other's enemy: Drea’s boyfriend for leaking an intimate video and Eleanor’s former crush Carissa for spreading a rumour.
At first, the storyline appears to follow the simple yet intriguing plot with no obstacles. However, just as things are going to plan, we are soon met with the first twist that Drea spread the rumour and Eleanor is actually exacting revenge on her. It is at this point the film shows its capability of layered storytelling.
Mendez’s performance as a popular girl who loses all credibility and begins to share her vulnerability is well received for highlighting a personality profile that is ever growing in a world of social pressure on teens. Hawke was already a Netflix star for her role in Stranger Things, though her performance is stellar as an outcast-turned-sociopath and is a credit for breaking the stereotype of weak and helpless introverts.
Furthermore, the unforeseen development of the duo’s forgiveness towards each other proves there is no telling of how the story will end and makes the ending of exposing Max all the more sweet. Overall, the social commentary of the movie outperforms the entertainment value, though this is not a negative point. To anyone ready to give up at the midway lull: don’t. It gets a whole lot better.
7/10