Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Netflix/Getty
Over the weekend, Netflix released the new darkly twisted teen comedy, Do Revenge. The gist of the film is that two high school students—a dethroned Queen Bee named Drea (Camila Mendes) and an ostracized lesbian transfer by the name of Eleanor (Maya Hawke)—bond over two rather traumatizing scandals that have upended each of their lives.
Drea’s comes in the form of a nude video, presumably leaked by her then-boyfriend. The video ruins Drea’s social standing, yet somehow exalts her popular boyfriend as a feminist hero. Eleanor’s downfall is a longer burn: a years-long grudge held against a fellow student who outed her and portrayed her as a predatory lesbian. Eleanor hasn’t seen the woman in four years, until she discovers she’s transferring to the same school as her.
The film is bananagrams. There are no less than a dozen gasp-out-loud moments. At times you’re watching a comedy, then a full-blown satire, then a psychological thriller. There is a small character named Oscar-winner Olivia Colman, not played by Oscar-winner Olivia Colman. It’s all gas, no brakes. I’m not entirely sure what my opinion of the film is, nor am I sure I trust myself to develop one after one watch. Granted, I was also marginally stoned while watching this, so that might have clouded my judgment. I’m just trying to level with you here.