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If you’re looking for a new age “Mean Girls” with a twist, you have to watch Netflix’s new film, “Do Revenge”. Not only is it extremely entertaining but it includes queer representation. The Netflix original became the number-one movie on the platform only two days after its Sept. 16 release.
The film follows Drea (Camila Mendes), a fallen queen bee, and Eleanor (Maya Hawke), a queer transfer student, as they team up to get revenge on the people who have wronged them. Drea seeks revenge on her ex-boyfriend for leaking her sex tape, making her a social outcast. Eleanor longs to take down the girl who outed her to the whole school and painted her as a predator, a situation that far too many queer people are familiar with.
Although three of the main female characters are openly queer, what really makes ‘Do Revenge’ stand out is how evolved and almost accurate the queer representation is.
Queer representation in movies isn’t a new concept, but many movies feed into stereotypes about queer people or include the “gay best friend” for comedic relief, like Damien in ‘Mean Girls’.
Content matters just as much as representation. This movie does a great job of making the queer characters three-dimensional with personalities that extend to more than just being queer. For example, the main character’s love interest is a feminine, openly-queer woman, which isn’t often represented in movies. “Do Revenge” also addresses the predatory stigma around queer people that isn’t talked about enough, especially for female-identifying people.
Most popular movies starring queer people, such as “Love, Simon” and “But I’m a Cheerleader,” center the plot around the main character’s sexuality. “Do Revenge” breaks this trend.
The main character Eleanor is already comfortable with her sexuality, moving the plot far beyond a coming-out story. The story arc has little to do with Eleanor’s sexuality, thus showing that queer people are more than just their sexuality.
The movie gives a refreshing taste of ‘90s and ‘00s nostalgia. With outfits parallel to “Clueless,” a highschool hierarchy similar to “Mean Girls,” and themes from “She’s All That” and “Heathers,” “Do Revenge” really captures the best of teen drama cult classics. This blend of movies with a modern touch creates the perfect guilty pleasure teen comedy that queer people can connect to and feel good about watching.
“Of course, there are queer undertones in a lot of the ‘90s and 2000s movies that I really love, and there are obviously queer undertones in Patricia Highsmith’s writing, but, for me, it was about telling a story that felt true to being young today. So there was never a version of this film where Eleanor wasn’t a queer character,” “Do Revenge” director Jennifer Robinson told NBC News.
“Do Revenge” has received immediate praise for it’s evolved queer representation all over the internet. Queer people can connect to this film while laughing out loud. If you love high school drama-dies with a twist be sure not to miss this fresh film!