The teen movie came into prominence during the 1980’s, mainly thanks to the work of John Hughes. Its popularity grew and diversified during the nineties, but for some reason there has been a distinct drop-off in their production in the last decade or so. Studios have placed so much emphasis on action-heavy films, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe that a film aimed purely at the teenage market is no longer deemed financially viable. Cinema’s loss however, is streaming’s gain; the genre is getting something of a resurgence thanks to platforms such as Netflix and Amazon. Netflix’s latest offering to the teen masses is Do Revenge.
Starring Riverdale’s Camila Mendes, and Stranger Things’ Maya Hawke, Do Revenge is going to draw attention for its cast alone. Their fans will be rewarded as Do Revenge is actually a solid teen story. Mendes plays private school Queen Bee, Drea. A girl who has the school and world at her beck and call, life is great for Drea, but her perfect life crumbles around her after a misguided decision leaves her the talk of the school. Cast out from her friends, she strikes up a relationship with new girl Eleanor (Hawke). Eleanor has her own grievances with some of her new classmates and the pair bond over their shared spite. Craving retribution, the pair embark on a masterful scheme to seek vengeance on each other’s tormentors.
It’s the classic Strangers on a Train story, minus the murder, and filtered through teen movie tropes. Taking a familiar story and making it more appealing to a younger market is a tried and tested technique. In fact, it formed the basis of several iconic teen movies from the nineties: Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, Cruel Intentions, and She’s All That. It’s a move that always has a high chance of success and Do Revenge is certainly more hit than miss. At two hours long, it’s a tad too long, especially when you factor in the shorter attention span of the social media generation. Do Revenge does however, have plenty of plot shake-ups to keep the narrative fresh and interesting.
Given the modern setting, Do Revenge has a strong cyberspace aspect. Some of the girls’ revenge relies on sending school-wide blasts and information on their target’s whereabouts is gleaned from their social media posts. However, in spite of all this modern technology and structures, Do Revenge is undoubtedly thematically nineties. In addition to following the nineties trend for updating a classic, Do Revenge channels some of the best of the decade. The revenge angle to the story places it firmly in Cruel Intentions territory (and has a direct link to the film), though neither Drea or Eleanor is quite as ruthless as Kathryn Merteuil. In order to infiltrate the beautiful popular people, Elenor has to undergo the mandatory make-up, bringing in aspects of She’s All That. Then there’s the abundance of high-fashion costumes that wouldn’t look out of place in Clueless even thirty years on.
Obvious references to the best of the nineties aside, director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson keeps the theme running through all elements. The fashion is firmly fixed to the nineties though it includes a modern twist. The music, including plenty of modern songs, skews to classics from the era too. Visually, Do Revenge is bubblegum bright, another key factor in the bulk of nineties teen movies. Audiences have been obsessed with eighties nostalgia since the arrival of Stranger Things, but with Do Revenge we might have the beginning of a nineties nostalgia spiral. By bridging the gap between modern and old, Robinson ensures that Do Revenge is accessible to more than just its teen audience. Those who were teens in the nineties will also find much to cling onto, and given that many that age during that time are now the parents of teenagers, it’s a great film to enjoy together.
Do Revenge
Summary
Saturated in nineties fashion and songs, Do Revenge is a nostalgic hit to the heart.
Do Revenge is released globally on Netflix on 16th September 2022.
