Synopsis
A journalist and podcaster from New York City travels to West Texas in order to report on the death of a girl he was hooking up with.
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Cast
- B.J. NovakBen Manalowitz
- Boyd HolbrookTy Shaw
- J. Smith-CameronSharon Shaw
- Issa RaeEloise
- Ashton KutcherQuentin Sellers
- Lio TiptonAbilene Shaw
- Dove CameronKansas City Shaw
- Isabella AmaraParis Shaw
- Eli BickelEl Stupido Shaw
- John MayerJohn
Recommendations
- 100
Variety
In Vengeance, B.J. Novak proves a born storyteller with the rare gift of using a film to say something that intoxicates us. - 83
IndieWire
Even when the jokes miss the mark or the central mystery seems too easily solved, Vengeance is sustained by the question of what its characters mean to each other; a question asked sweetly but shrouded by an ever-growing darkness that allows the film to wander into dangerous territory by the end. - 75
The Playlist
Some of Novak’s camera sense, particularly early on, betrays his sitcom roots, and he commits the classic rookie mistake of going on three or so scenes too long, tying up inconsequential loose ends. But he crafts a good mystery, consistently engaging and entertaining, and the thoughtful turns of the last confrontation are sly, smart, and knowing. - 75
The Film Stage
Vengeance is a refreshing, self-aware take on a man who sets out to define a societal problem and is met with evolving redefinition. - 70
Slashfilm
Vengeance manages to balance its self-effacing and sentimental tones in a way that is extremely satisfying and entertaining to watch. - 63
Slant Magazine
Though its lack of emotional escalation could be read as intentional, Vengeance is ground to a repetitive halt by B.J. Novak’s preaching. - 50
The Hollywood Reporter
Mild fish-out-of-water humor and an element of mystery may satisfy fans of Novak’s work on the again-popular The Office, but fall short of proving he has much potential as a big-screen auteur. - 40
TheWrap
The scattershot new media satire Vengeance might have been merely a toothless provocation replete with both-sides false equivalences were it not so well-scripted and well-directed on a scene-to-scene basis.
