Vengeance

Vengeance

Ben Manalowitz, a journalist and podcaster, travels from New York City to West Texas to investigate the death of a girl he was hooking up with.

  • Released:
  • Runtime: 120 minutes
  • Genre: Comedy, Drama, Thrillers
  • Stars: B. J. Novak, Issa Rae, Ashton Kutcher, Boyd Holbrook, Dove Cameron, Isabella Amara, J. Smith-Cameron, Lio Tipton
  • Director: B. J. Novak
 Comments
  • lantern4444 - 21 March 2024
    A highly enjoyable murder mystery
    I thoroughly enjoyed this great movie. It takes a new and different angle on the murder mystery theme. Ben, a writer. Is drawn into the family of a girl he barely knew when she is murdered. Ben initially stays in the hope of writing a story but is slowly drawn into the investigation.

    The movie contrasts the differences between a West Texas rural family and a Big City writer. It shows in detail the differences in attitudes, norms, customs and language between Ben and the Texan family. The characters are all well developed as individuals while also being shown to belong to a caring family and community.

    I thought acting was great and really brought the different characters to life. The story line was also really well written from a different angle which slowly develops to an unexpected ending.
  • carlahulderman - 13 August 2023
    Such a great hidden treasure
    It's hilarious, endearing, smart, great casting and a murder mystery to solve. Absolutely enjoyed this movie. Love B. J. Novak as an actor and a writer. Talented is an understatement!!

    The whole commentary on the sensationalization of murder podcasts is something people are finally starting to discuss and change about this genre. Also the whole wanting just to become famous any way possible.

    But the best part of this movie, imo, are the Texas jokes. So silly but so well placed. I giggled every time. A very surprising find in a soupy mess of hurried, poorly produced on demand these days. Glad I decided to take a chance.
  • tpasa-1 - 4 June 2023
    Well written movie without trying to be preachy
    BJ Novak should be applauded for this well written and directed movie that sees a self pretentious New York writer/blogger end up in rural Texas trying to find a story, but ends up with new outlook on life.

    What I really enjoyed about the movie was Novack's even take on his character that he rarely spun into stereotypes. It first he portrays the Rural Texans as perhaps simpletons since that was the character's view of them as he arrived, but soon he finds out the complexities of the people and the area may be a lot more than he expected.

    Without giving away spoilers, a shoutout as to go out to Aston Kutcher who absolutely steals the show in every scene he in with Novack. Throughout Kutcher's line, he give commentary (Novack's commentary) on the world around us, particularly the echo chambers many of us live within our cultural, political, and even Familia confides.

    There are genuine heart warming scenes, funny scenes, and shocking scenes. All of which turn what could have just been a dark fish out of water comedy into something just a little bit more.

    Not sure why or how this movie is rated so low unless it's getting bad votes from the super hero movie crowd. If you are looking for a good movie that stays away from being preachy, but delivers an interesting message, this is the movie for you.
  • albanyagain - 11 December 2022
    everywhere
    BJ NOVAK, BOYD HOLBROOK, DOVE CAMERON ISSA RAE ASHTON KUTCHER, INDIEWIRE WICKEDLY SHARP AND LOL FUN? VENGEANCE OUT AT YOUR LIBRARY? THE DIRECTORIAL DEBUT FROM WRITE AND STAR BJ THE OFFICE, IS A DARKLY COMIC THRILLER ABOUT BEN, A JOURNALIST AND PODCASTER WHO TRAVELS FROM NEW YORK CITY TO WEST TEXAS TO INVESTIGATE THE DEATH OF A GIRL HE WAS HOOKIN GUP WITH. WITH AN ENSEMBLE CAST THAT INCLUDES ISSA RAE, ASHTON KUTCHER, AND DOVE CAMERON.

    BAD IS EVERYWHERE IN REAL LIFE AND IN THE MOVIES AND LIES AND NOT EVERYONE HAS DESCENCY OR BORN INTO IT AND I MEAN IN NEW YORK STATE IN 1966.

    BAR CODE CULTS FROM UPSTATE NY, 1 93129 23142 5

    HI ASHTON HOW IS THAT DAUGHTER AND WHAT WAS HER NAME? ALBANY NEW YORK ?

    THAT'S ALL I CARE ABOUT.

    SUBTITLES " ENGLISH AND ESPANOL AND FRANCAIS

    BLUM HOUSE AKA BUM HOUSE UPHE. COM 1HR AND 48/ MINUTES.
  • TxMike - 18 November 2022
    New York Jew goes to West Texas to help investigate the death of a girl he knew.
    The "New York Jew" part of my summary is important because a person with that particular background is about as foreign as you can get from rodeo-loving, oil field-working, West Texas cowboys he has to learn to deal with. Besides the actor wrote the screenplay himself, also acts and directs. That was his intent. (Actually filmed in New Mexico.)

    He gets the call from her brother, she was found dead near a highway after a party, it was ruled a drug overdose but her brother believes she was murdered. He doesn't ask, he tells the former boyfriend he will pick him up at the airport and drive him five hours west of Abilene.

    Totally unprepared but using his skills as a journalist and pod-caster he does his own kind of investigation. Eventually important things come out but the trip turns out more to deeply examine aspects of life and relationships. Plus there is a very dark ending.

    All in all a very well-made and interesting movie. In some aspects of mood and story it reminded me of that excellent 1996 movie "Lone Star".

    I was able to watch it at home on DVD from my public library.
  • mrashtastic89 - 25 October 2022
    Vengefully gripping
    Vengeance is a taut murder mystery and one of the best mystery flicks I've seen this year, for being B. J Novak's directorial debut it did not fail to impress me, it was beautifully original and I'm excited to see what else B. J Novak gives us in the future.

    You can tell he put his heart and soul into making this movie, the Texans aren't only made as jokes and there is a lot of obvious research done here on the people and the actual place, the story of this film managed to capture my interest and constantly wonder what would happen next, and it also has one of the best twist endings I've seen this year.

    B. J Novak is great in this movie but it's Ashton Kutcher who steals the show in his short bit of screen time, he gives the performance of his career masterfully playing the villain of this film and by the end I was both very intrigued and incredibly satisfied.

    I'm gonna give Vengeance an A-