Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Prevenge Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 24, 2020

Alice Lowe has amassed a substantial amount of credits as a character actress, making brief appearances in “The World’s End,” “Locke,” and “Paddington.” Her most substantial screen role was found in “Sightseers,” a wonderful dark comedy from director Ben Wheatley, who showed uncharacteristic focus and made the most of Lowe’s screen presence. Taking command of her professional future, Lowe makes her directorial debut with “Prevenge,” also scripting herself a prime role in a slasher film that’s more about the anxieties of motherhood than the piling of dead bodies. Crafted with wit, terrific performances, and some unexpected trips into the gore zone, “Prevenge” is striking work from Lowe, who not only understands the constant concerns that swirl around the journey of pregnancy, but she’s good with violence as well, keeping the feature suspenseful when it isn’t refreshingly insightful.

Ruth (Alice Lowe) is entering the late stages of pregnancy, but she’s completing the journey without a partner. A short time earlier, Ruth lost her lover in a bizarre climbing accident, left alone to go through a life-changing experience, growing bitter along the way. Taking care of business before she gives birth, Ruth sets out to exact revenge on those who participated in the seemingly accidental death, traveling around London to meet the men and women who’ve coldly moved on with their lives. Buttering them up with conversation, Ruth soon unleashes her inner fury, picking off her enemies one by one, trying to satisfy her anger and also silence the insistent voice of her unborn baby, who eggs her on, providing comfort and motivation for her confused mother.

“Prevenge” exists in a semi-dreamlike state, taking position inside Ruth’s head as she considers a life without the father of her child, feeling a mix of anguish, shock, and resignation with a future she wasn’t expecting. Lowe’s screenplay uses the slasher formula to dissect the stages of grief, with Ruth lost in a haze of emotions, unable to process how her life has changed so radically over something as simple as climbing accident, while the pregnancy itself wreaks all kinds of havoc on her mind, with her midwife (a scene-stealing Jo Hartley) openly reminding the mother-to-be that nothing is going to be the same. Ruth’s struggling, and her outlet is murder, going on a killing spree to satisfy hunger for revenge, also supporting the needs of her fetus, who becomes her companion during the odyssey, providing encouragement, clarity, and inspiration for her human host, representing the only intimate relationship Ruth has left.

Following Wheatley’s lead, Lowe fills “Prevenge” with a collection of oddballs for Ruth to navigate, opening the film with a visit to a reptile shop, trading double entendres with the owner, who tries to seduce his customer, introducing her to creepy creatures as they slowly make their way to a back room. It’s here where the viewer receives their first glimpse of Ruth’s rage, delivering a shock to the system that the movie returns to repeatedly, with the pregnant woman filling pages of a special notebook with scattered thoughts and deadly plans, establishing the mission ahead. Ruth’s lust for revenge also takes her to a sparsely attended disco night at a local bar, where she takes on hulking DJ Dan (Tom Davis), a moronic lothario who can’t handle his liquor and doesn’t live alone. Ella (Kate Dickie) is a corporate cog interviewing Ruth for a job, appalled by her desire for employment so close to her delivery date. Len (Gemma Whelan) is long-distance runner who doesn’t have time to deal with Ruth’s guise as a door- to-door children’s charity solicitor. And there’s Tom (Kayvan Novak), the leader of the climbing expedition, with Ruth attempting to figure out a way to lure him out into the open, but her rage and accessibility clouds her concentration.

Prevenge Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation does have trouble with artifacting, finding banding a common problem throughout the viewing experience. It's not overwhelming, but it's there, creeping into the backgrounds with regularity. Detail remains sharp throughout, doing well with close-ups, which pick up on evidence of age and fine hairs. Interiors deliver clear decoration as the action heads into living spaces and clubs, while an opening visit to a pet store exposes all sorts of scaly and furry appearances. Costuming is fibrous. Exteriors retain dimension as the film tours city streets and the open world. Colors carry a distinctly HD-shot appearance, with flatter hues in apartments and offices. Red blood is accentuated. Greenery looks strong, as does holiday makeup designs. Skintones are acceptable. Delineation is satisfactory.

Prevenge Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a full frontal push of aural elements, delivering crisp dialogue exchanges with clear accents. Scoring efforts are distinct, supporting the film's move from stillness to horror, and soundtrack selections are heavy, offering big beats for dance music and sharp synth. Surrounds push out club visits and atmospherics, finding high winds and whipping water with cliffside events. Mild panning effects are employed. Sound effects are invitingly specific, with squirting wounds common.

Prevenge Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this release.

Prevenge Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The murders are graphic, ranging from sliced throats to genital trauma, and they're sold inventively by Lowe and cinematographer Ryan Eddleston, who provides some visual style for a low-budget endeavor. Synth-based scoring also boosts the mood of the picture. However, the real firepower of "Prevenge" is found in Lowe's screenplay, which is wise about the challenges of pregnancy (Lowe was actually expecting during production), the fears of impending motherhood, and the horrors of personal loss. It's wrapped up tight in a darkly comic effort, delivering substantial laughs to go with all the philosophy and disorientation found in this exceptional film, which brings out the best in Lowe, who hopefully has more stories and nightmares to share as she embarks on what's aiming to be a triumphant directorial career.