So, having finished this movie and having previously heard that it supposedly told the "rape-revenge" story from a "feminist perspective" ... and now reading review after review on rottentomatoes and other places, none of which see mto be able to leave out the word feminist, I am honestly puzzled. Puzzled as to where exactly the feminism is hidden in this otherwise fine (really good even) addition to the genre.
So, .. unless the fact that it's been directed by a woman is enough to satisfy the claim to feminism - I'm afraid I'm going to need SOME kind of explanation. Or at least some thoughts on WHAT exactly, supposedly, makes this "feminist".
Let me quote the start of one user review: "Can you tell a rape-revenge movie from a feminist perspective? The lazy storyteller or analyst would say movies like I Spit on Your Grave are feminist because it involves a wronged woman wrecking righteous vengeance on her almost-assuredly male attackers. However, if you've seen I Spit on your Grave, or its remake, or any genre thriller where rape is treated as the inciting incident, you'll know these movies are hardly feminist. The protagonists typically exist to be objectified, then traumatized, then transformed into sadistic killers. It's not exactly the most nuanced or dignified portraits of sexual violence. French writer/director Coralie Fargeat attempts to give this tired trope a feminist spin with Revenge, a thrilling, grueling, wildly bloody good time. [...]" (Nate Zoebl)
The reviewer never really circles back to the supposed "feminist perspective" nor gives any explanation. This review is just one I picked, there are plenty more that do the exact same thing. They drop the term feminism in there somehwere and that's the end of it, apparently.
Now, I have not watched 'I Spit on Your Grave', but based on the description given here, I don't see where 'Revenge' differs in any way whatsoever:
So, there you have it. To make a feminist movie, have a female director and don't be sadistic, I guess.
Thoughts?
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Reply by SydneyFife
on August 2, 2018 at 6:25 PM
It wont let me edit, but of course it's "much-touted" not "much-tauted".. d'oh.
Reply by OddRob
on August 2, 2018 at 11:27 PM
Ill copy and paste something I said in my review.
'I also feel like the director, a female, threw in the male nudity to try and counter balance the female nudity...except there was no female nudity. Just bra and panties. Mean while we have the lead bad guy running around dick flopping around. Again, I would be just fine with that IF Jen did the same thing. The director was obviously trying to make a statement about sexplotation in films. From the male nudity to the low angle ass shots on Jen. Also the line at the end, 'Women always have to put up a fight.' ehhh seemed a little to on head for me. We get it, girl power, you dont need to spoon feed it to us. But you should be expecting that going into a film like this.'
That was basically the only 'feminist' angles that I got form watching the film. I have seen the original and remake and sequels of I Spit on your Grave and plenty of other female/male revenge films. I really enjoy the revenge genre films and yes they all have basically the same premise, especially when it comes to female leads. But the male nudity and 'the women always have to put up a fight' line are the only feminist things that stand out to me. Everything else in the film is your standard rape/revenge type of film.
Reply by MongoLloyd
on September 1, 2018 at 1:41 PM
Not sure what you were expecting. Did you think she would speechify about "rape culture" and feminism whilst she was running around in the desert with a hole in her abdomen being hunted by 3 men? I think the "feminism" in the story has merely to do with her not taking it while also giving it back to them. Why does it have to be more than that?
Reply by SydneyFife
on September 1, 2018 at 1:52 PM
Hmm, you did not catch what I was actually asking:
My question was not: "why isn't this movie more feminist?", but rather: "why are so many reviewers calling this feminist?"
Reply by MongoLloyd
on September 1, 2018 at 1:53 PM
My response still applies.
Reply by SydneyFife
on September 1, 2018 at 2:13 PM
I guess we will have to agree to disagree on that point.
Reply by MongoLloyd
on September 1, 2018 at 2:29 PM
Not really. You're asking "why are critics calling this feminist?" Which is the same thing as asking "where were the feminist elements in this film?"
Reply by Kewl Kat
on December 4, 2018 at 12:03 PM
There was female nudity. Perhaps you dozed off? There was no sniz but there was T & A. How often do you see sniz in a film, anyhow? It's pretty rare.
As far as it being "feminist," the female prevails. But females usually do in these kind of films so I agree, there is not much original in the way this turns out.
Yes, it was incredibly unrealistic but it was still fun to watch.
Reply by northcoast
on December 4, 2018 at 6:59 PM
Kewl Kat--
I have not seen this movie ("Revenge"), but I am giving you "props" (do people still say that?) for using the word "sniz". (I'm assuming it refers to female genitalia).
I've never heard that word before:
"Sniz".
I learned something new today, and you gave me a chuckle; thanks
Reply by Kewl Kat
on December 4, 2018 at 7:31 PM
Yeah, no problem. As Joni Mitchell would say, "life is for learning."
Just so you know, both spellings, "sniz" and "snizz" are considered correct. The spelling is usually determined by region. Where I come from, one 'z' is preferred.
Reply by OddRob
on December 4, 2018 at 11:43 PM
Ummm from what I remember we never see her ass or her titties...unless you consider thongs and bras and bikinis as that...which I dont. But we do get full frontal dick swinging around. So again, it was not balanced. Jen didnt show any real nudity.
Reply by Kewl Kat
on December 5, 2018 at 7:41 PM
We do. When the gentleman follows her into the bedroom and watches her change and then proceeds on engaging in non-consensual coitus with her.
Reply by OddRob
on December 6, 2018 at 12:31 AM
Well you made me go back and watch that part and you are right, we see her ass and boobs. Happened so fast I completely forgot...not to mention the creeper who rapes her distracted me.
Reply by Kewl Kat
on December 6, 2018 at 2:35 PM
But no sniz.
Reply by OddRob
on December 7, 2018 at 12:31 AM
Haha no, no sniz. But even if we did it would probably be a Merkin anyway. God forbid we see some vagina lips but people getting butchered is fine.