Do Revenge (2022) is Jennifer Robinson’s psychotic love letter to the teen film forebears. It is filled with constant allusions to and reimaginings of classic teen drama movies. Director Robinson brings back the let’s play dirty revenge trope that most movies lack these days.
Additionally, Robinson reintroduces the teen drama icon, Sarah Michelle Gellar, to the girl drama scene. It has been quite a few years since Gellar has done a project with violent teen drama themes; her role has evolved from a teenager at the center of the drama to an adult who tries to prevent and tame the drama. In Do Revenge, Gellar plays the headmistress of the posh Rosehill Academy, where Drea (Camilla Mendes) and Eleanor (Maya Hawke) are vengeance-obsessed high school students.
The film opens with Drea recounting the beginning of her revenge story against her ex-boyfriend. At tennis camp, Drea meets Eleanor who also wants revenge against her ex-girlfriend. The two rage-filled teenagers team up to help each other on their paths to the perfect life-ruining vengeance on the ones who ruined them.
Do Revenge never stops throwing plot twists and introducing psychopathic traits in its characters. Throughout the entire film, we are rooting for Drea and Eleanor to publicly destroy and burn their enemies, only to find out there is more at play. Gellar’s character is actually the only sane character in the film, contrary to her past roles. She has shifted away from her previous characters as a teen drama icon and is now taking on the role of an advisor/mentor.
Gellar’s role in teen dramas has drastically changed since her infamous character as Kathryn Merteuil from Cruel Intentions (1999). Her character is no longer manipulating someone’s life and mental state to serve her personal game. Instead, Gellar returns in Do Revenge with the role of the headmistress–stealing every scene she was in. Hopefully, this film is only the beginning of Gellar’s comeback in teen drama films/shows.
All of the music, bright color schemes, clothes, cliques, and personal relationships in Do Revenge are pulled from the 90s with a touch of the 21st-century modern girl aesthetic. This movie draws inspiration from Gellar’s previous iconic films, and it is interesting to see the producers bring Gellar in as a mentor/guiding figure for the young teens in their badass quest for revenge. Do Revenge is the film of the year to channel the pretty psychopaths who want to succeed, not only in life but also in their social cliques in school.