Revenge Limited Edition Review

4 stars of blood soaked and unexpected revenge thriller.

Revenge is written and directed by French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat and is her very impressive directorial debut. It also features a standout performance from relative newcomer Matilda Lutz (Rings), whose transformation from a simpering and vulnerable mistress to homicidal killing machine is quite extraordinary.

It tells us the story of Jen (Matilda Lutz), a young woman staying with a wealthy businessman and CEO, Richard (Kevin Janssens – The Ardennes, Vermist) at his hunting lodge in the desert.

Despite his wife and children waiting at home for him he has decided to precede his annual hunting trip with a few days spent with his beautiful mistress.

Unfortunately for all concerned, his fellow hunters Dimitri (Guillaume Bouchède – Two is a Family, Just Like Brothers) and Stan (Vincent Colombe – My King, Point Blank) decide to arrive a day early, thus crossing paths with the very appealing Jen.

That night they throw a party and between drinking and dancing, Jen is a little bit over amorous with Dimitri and Stan. Richard whisks her away to bed but the damage has already been done and while he is out organising the hunting trip, Jen is raped by Stan while Dimitri turns up the TV to drown out the noise and swims in the pool.

Panicked, she runs into the desert, where Richard shows his true colours by trying to kill her to protect his reputation and marriage. Left for dead on a spike in a desert canyon all seems lost, but due to a feat of superhuman survivalism, she manages to get away and embark upon a well deserved and extremely brutal hunting trip of her own.

Revenge is very stylish and features lots of interesting filming techniques and ideas. There is a lot of very disturbing imagery, mostly involving eating and insects and the sheer quantity of blood is quite mind blowing. As revenge thrillers go, this one pushes the boat out, with plenty of fresh ideas and some seriously gory close ups.

Although from a medical point of view almost everything that happens is totally unfeasible, strangely this doesn’t really detract from the enjoyment at all, realism isn’t everything and it’s nice to see someone recognize that.

As long as you don’t mind the fact that about half of the film is in French with English subtitles, then this one is a must own for fans of the genre.

“We told him not to go hunting here. The desert is sublime, but merciless with the careless.”

SPECIAL FEATURES

Out for Blood: a new interview with Director Coralie Fargeat and Actor Matilda Lutz
The Coward: a new interview with Actor Guillaume Bouchede
Fairy Tale Violence: a new interview with Cinematographer Robrecht Heyvaert
Death Notes: a new interview with composer Robin Coudert (Rob)
New audio commentary by Kat Ellinger, Author and Editor of Diabolique

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS