Write a paragraph or two in response to each of the following prompts:
I always ask you to start by considering the title of the film, so is “Revenge” a simple, unadorned description of this film or is it something more? What cultural associations and moral implications does the word “revenge” carry with it? Is “revenge” ultimately an apt word for the narrative and moral arc of this film? Why or why not?
Many critics have touted “Revenge” as feminist re-imagining of the rape-revenge fantasy, but what makes this film different from other movies in this particular sub-genre? Does having a female writer and director make a difference to how this story is told? Pay attention not only to characterizations and narrative elements, but also consider more technical aspects of the film making, such as camera work, sound editing, color pallet, etc. Feel free to compare and contrast this film to similar films you may have seen.
Like “Raw”, much of the impact of “Revenge” derives from the use of body horror, gruesome and very gory scenes; however, “Revenge” seems to be aiming at something different with its use of extreme violence. What is the effect on the viewer of seeing so much blood? Is all this gore too much, or is the excessive quality somehow part of the point?
Finally, this film is certainly stylish and slick, but do you consider it “elevated horror”? Why or why not? Again, feel free to use previous films we’ve watched as points of reference.
Professor Chuck 