My Review Of "Revenge"

Norwegian revenge thriller "Revenge" is directed by Kjersti Steinsbø. The film stars Siren Jørgensen, Frode Winther, Maria Bock, Anders Baasmo Christiansen. It is a dramatic, intelligent story focusing on one woman's plans for retribution.

Travelling under a false identity, Rebekka sets out on a mission to confront Morten Holand whom she shares a dark secret surrounding the death of her sister. As her plan falls apart, Rebekka is forced to face the devastating consequences of her actions and must decide how far she is willing to go to seek revenge.

"Revenge" is a steady, methodical character study, driven by cruelty and fueled by retribution. The story is a classic revenge thriller tale in that it focuses on one woman's journey to exact revenge. Kjersti Steinsbø's prose stays more within the drama and psychological methodology of the victim's motivatio, as opposed to traditional films focusing on graphic violence. "Revenge" works when connecting the viewer with a sympathetic perspective, but fails when approaching the thriller edge, needed to excite the story's more psychological criminality eluded to in the plot details.

The film does manage to be an original approach to the revenge subgenre story. Instead of going for gore and gratuitous violence. Steinsbø chooses a more empathetic, dramatic approach, allowing for the viewer to be imaginative in interpreting the moments as they unfold. It proves well at giving the movie a more sophisticated look and feel. Unfortunately the volume of material presented isn't enough to maintain the initial level of suspense, and intrigue the beginning builds.

Overall "Revenge" is a delightful, captivating melodrama that tip-toes around rap-revenge tropes without getting dirty. Shot beautifully and told with heartfelt honesty. However it will only resonate with indie world cinema crowds,  satisfied with drama framed by some of the world's prettiest scenery. Horror and traditional revenge thriller fans will find very little to sustain them during the film's running time. (3/5)