Revenge (2017)

Last updated:
September 18, 2025

Revenge (2017), directed by Coralie Fargeat, is a brutal French action-thriller that redefines the rape-revenge subgenre with stylish cinematography, over-the-top gore, and a powerful female lead. Here’s a comprehensive deep dive into the movie.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

The Desert Retreat

Jen (Matilda Lutz), a young woman, joins her married lover Richard (Kevin Janssens) for a secret getaway in his remote desert villa. Richard is wealthy, controlling, and clearly sees Jen as a disposable fling. Soon, his hunting buddies Stan (Vincent Colombe) and Dimitri (Guillaume Bouchède) arrive earlier than expected. Their arrival sets off the toxic masculine energy that will define the rest of the film.

The Assault

What begins as casual flirting quickly spirals into violence. Stan assaults Jen while Dimitri pretends not to notice, choosing silence over intervention. Richard, upon discovering what happened, refuses to take Jen back to safety. Instead, his concern is covering things up to protect his reputation and marriage. When Jen insists on leaving, Richard pushes her off a cliff, leaving her impaled on a tree and assuming she’ll die from her injuries.

The Rebirth

In a surreal and bloody sequence, Jen miraculously survives. After cauterizing her wound with a heated beer can (one of the film’s most infamous scenes), she transforms into a hardened survivor. Now stripped of her innocence and betrayed by every man she trusted, she arms herself and begins her violent path of vengeance.

The Hunt Begins

The three men underestimate Jen, assuming she’s weak and incapable of retaliation. But in the vast desert landscape, she flips the script. Using guerrilla tactics, she hunts them down one by one. Her transformation is as much psychological as physical: she goes from Richard’s disposable mistress to a relentless warrior drenched in blood and dirt.

Movie Ending

The climax of Revenge is a violent, chaotic showdown inside Richard’s luxurious home. Covered in blood, Jen ambushes him in a surreal cat-and-mouse chase that leaves the pristine white villa completely drenched in gore. The final moments are a reversal of power: Richard, who once controlled Jen’s fate, becomes the hunted.

The chase culminates in a gory confrontation where Jen finally kills Richard, cementing her transformation from victim to executioner. The last image of the film shows Jen standing battered but alive, her body scarred but her will unbroken. It’s not just a revenge story—it’s about rebirth through violence, survival, and reclaiming power.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Revenge does not include any post-credits scenes. The movie ends definitively with Jen’s victory, leaving no ambiguity or setup for a sequel.

Type of Movie

Genre: Action Thriller / Rape-Revenge / Feminist Horror
Tone: Brutal, bloody, surreal, and symbolic

Cast

Matilda Lutz as Jen
Kevin Janssens as Richard
Vincent Colombe as Stan
Guillaume Bouchède as Dimitri

Film Music and Composer

The intense, pulsating score was composed by Rob (Robin Coudert). His use of electronic synths heightens the surreal, dreamlike atmosphere while fueling the adrenaline of the brutal action sequences.

Filming Locations

The film was shot primarily in the Moroccan desert. The vast, barren landscapes play a symbolic role—isolated, hostile, and merciless, perfectly reflecting Jen’s struggle for survival. The villa setting provides a stark contrast: luxury and power corrupted by male dominance and violence.

Awards and Nominations

Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2017 – Official Selection
Sitges Film Festival – Best Director nomination for Coralie Fargeat
Widely praised by critics as a feminist reimagining of the exploitation genre, though it didn’t take home major mainstream awards.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Coralie Fargeat made her feature-length debut with Revenge.
The film’s gore effects required gallons of fake blood—reportedly over 6 liters were used for the final scene alone.
The desert heat made shooting difficult; actors were often performing in extreme conditions.
Matilda Lutz performed many of her own stunts, further enhancing the rawness of Jen’s transformation.

Inspirations and References

Inspired by 1970s exploitation and rape-revenge films like I Spit on Your Grave and Last House on the Left, but reworked through a feminist lens.
The phoenix tattoo on Jen’s stomach symbolizes rebirth, directly mirroring her journey.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No widely known alternate endings exist, but early cuts of the film were reportedly even more graphic. Fargeat trimmed some sequences to balance art-house style with shock value.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Revenge is not based on a book but instead serves as a modern reinterpretation of an entire subgenre of exploitation cinema. Its major difference is the perspective: while older films often leaned into male gaze and exploitation, Revenge flips the narrative to focus on female empowerment and agency.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Jen impaled on the tree, surviving against all odds.
The infamous cauterization with the Phoenix beer can.
Bubblegum-pink earbuds in the opening, contrasting with the bloody chaos later.
The blood-soaked showdown in Richard’s house.

Iconic Quotes

Richard: “You know, when you’re with a real man, you feel it.”
Jen (through her silence and actions): Her transformation speaks louder than any words.

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The phoenix logo on the beer can foreshadows Jen’s rebirth.
The villa’s sterile white design contrasts with the inevitable bloodbath.
Jen’s star-shaped earrings remain even through her transformation, symbolizing her clinging to identity.

Trivia

This was Coralie Fargeat’s first full-length film.
Matilda Lutz had to undergo intense physical preparation for the role.
The movie became a cult hit for its stylish gore and feminist twist.

Why Watch?

If you’re looking for a revenge thriller that blends brutal violence with artistic visuals and a fresh feminist perspective, Revenge is a must-watch. It’s stylish, shocking, and surprisingly empowering.

Revenge (2017)