Vengeance review: A hilarious dark comedy and a social commentary on contemporary society

3.5/5

Story: Ben (B J Novak), a writer for the New Yorker, gets a phone call one night informing him that his ‘girlfriend’ Abby had passed. Abby’s parents contact Ben assuming that they were a couple, when in fact Abbie and Ben had merely hooked up on a few occasions a long time ago. Ben decides to go to the funeral in Texas so that he would not offend her family. But when he arrives in Texas he discovers that Abby’s brother Ty (Boyd Holbrook) wants them to team up to exact vengeance on the person responsible for Abby’s death.

Review: B J Novak is not a novice when it comes to helming critically acclaimed stories, considering he is credited with writing and directing The Office — the award-winning comedy series in which he played the character of Ryan Howard. Novak showcases his ability to juggle multiple responsibilities for his feature film directorial debut, Vengeance, and he deserves immense credit for the film’s understated humour, emotional depth, and satire of the social media age.

The familiar trope of a man from a big city learning to love a near-desolate small town and its inhabitants is the most obvious theme of the film. But unlike several previous incarnations of this trope, there is a sense of warmth and an unconventional journey of self-discovery in the film for its protagonist Ben. Through Ben, the narrative also explores the ideas of disconnect and alienation in society in the social media era. Abby’s family treats Ben like one of their own, which is something he hasn't even felt with his own family in years.

The film’s supporting characters are pivotal to the story, despite their limited screen time. They are instrumental in providing a new perspective towards America as a nation and Ben himself, as he works on a podcast investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding Abby’s death. While it might appear that the mystery wouldn’t present itself as a major plot device, it surprisingly develops into something profound and compelling.

Ashton Kutcher as the charismatic and suave music producer is an excellent character that adds depth to the story. Whereas Boyd Holbrook has proven that he is equally adept at playing conniving villains, like in Logan and The Sandman, as well as an endearing character in Vengeance. The supporting characters also add value to Ben’s inadvertent journey of self-discovery.

Despite the film’s engrossing screenplay and intriguing story, the ending is almost detached from the film or very unexpected at the very least. While it certainly does not drag down the quality of the whole film, it is jarring to an extent. If not for maybe one particular scene, Vengeance could have easily been regarded as one of the best low-budget Hollywood productions of the year.

Verdict: B J Novak’s feature film directorial debut is certainly a cinematic triumph. The film features witty dialogues and a gripping story, and social commentary on contemporary society. The various references to the issues plaguing modern society as a result of social media are difficult to miss but subtle enough to keep one invested in the story.