Revenge: Team Jen

Revenge: the action of hurting or harming someone in return for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands. After watching the gruesome film, "Revenge," by French director, Coralie Fargeat, the crudeness behind the title was revealed.

At the start of the movie, the sole female character named Jen, played by actress Matilda Lutz is shown as a highly sexualized mistress to the leading male character, Richard, played by Kevin Janssens. Their infatuation with one another is thoroughly exemplified, and Richard's lavish lifestyle is admired by the breathtakingly-beautiful Jen. What follows these beginning scenes took the majority of the audience by utter surprise. Rape, murder, and ultimately revenge unfolds as the film takes on one sharp turn after the next. As Jen becomes an object that three men use and dispose of, a strong animal symbolism of the four characters divulges.

It is impressive how many symbols Fargeat is able to get across in such a gory creation. The men are portrayed as cliche "manly men" who continuously flex their masculinity through violence, hunting trips, and of course, taking full control of Jen. The one female, Jen, is shown progressing from a worthless body used for male entertainment into a fearless, resilient woman seeking payback for the wrongdoings against her.

When Jen first struts around the desert mansion that much of the movie takes place in, she takes a bite out of an apple and leaves it to rot. The camera focuses back on this apple multiple times, showing the slow decline of Jen's moral. Seen on the apple is the close up of a spider that epitomizes women. Later in the film, one of the men is shown trying to drown a spider in his own pee, therefore representing how the men mistreat women without question. This is just one of the many symbols demonstrated throughout the film, all of which contain a rich, well thought out background.

At the end of the cinema, the only two characters left are ex-lovers, Jen and Richard. Through a blood-filled battle, Jen finally slaughters the man who tried to kill her. Her revenge against Richard and his disgusting "team" is complete.

My thoughts on the film? Although I had to cover my eyes and hold back some gags throughout the goriest of scenes, I thought the movie was incredibly well made. None of the events were expected so I was always on my toes anticipating what would be next. I also felt the symbolism and male/female portrayals were spot on, entertaining, and definitely made me think hard after the viewing. There is much to unravel in regards to this movie and I highly recommend watching it for yourself if you have yet to see any of Fargeat's work.

Notice Jen's earrings are kept on throughout the entire film. Yet another fascinating symbol!

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/revenge?s=t (definition of revenge) 

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