Vengeance Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A New York writer goes to Texas, finds out Whataburger is real, and then gets mad at Ashton Kutcher for reasons.

🍿 Vengeance: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A New York Writer Heads to Texas

Ben Manalowitz, a writer and aspiring podcaster from New York City, receives a call from Ty Shaw, informing him that his sister, Abilene, with whom Ben had a casual fling, has died in West Texas. Ty believes Abilene was murdered and convinces Ben to attend her funeral. Reluctantly, Ben travels to Texas, seeing an opportunity to create a compelling podcast about grief and denial.

Investigating Abilene’s Death

Ben meets Abilene’s family, including her mother, Sharon, siblings Ty, Paris, Kansas City, and Mason, and Granny Carole. The family insists that Abilene didn’t take drugs and was murdered. Ben, initially skeptical, begins to investigate, interviewing Ty’s friend Crawl, who mentions ‘the Afterparty,’ an area near the oil fields with overlapping law enforcement jurisdictions. Ben explores various leads, including Sancholo, a local drug dealer, but finds inconsistencies and dead ends.

Unexpected Twists and Revelations

As Ben digs deeper, he uncovers surprising details about Abilene’s life, including her aspirations as a singer and her work with a local music producer, Quentin Sellers. Ben learns that Abilene might have been struggling with drug addiction, contrary to the family’s initial claims. His car is bombed after a rodeo, and tensions rise as Ben’s podcast story becomes more complex.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Ben Manalowitz (B.J. Novak): A cynical New York City writer who travels to Texas to investigate the death of a woman he barely knew, using it as material for a podcast.
• Ty Shaw (Boyd Holbrook): Abilene’s brother, convinced she was murdered and seeks Ben’s help in finding vengeance for her death.
• Abilene Shaw (Lio Tipton): The deceased sister whose death sets the events of the movie in motion.
• Quentin Sellers (Ashton Kutcher): An eccentric music producer in Texas who offers philosophical musings and has a connection to Abilene’s death.
• Sharon Shaw (J. Smith-Cameron): The mother of Abilene, coping with the loss of her daughter and grappling with the truth surrounding her death.
• Eloise (Issa Rae): Ben’s podcast producer in New York who encourages him to pursue the story of Abilene’s death.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Sharon Shaw: “It’s all regrets. You run as fast as you can from the last regret, and of course, you are just running straight into the next one. That’s life. It’s all regrets. That’s what they should say. No other way to be alive. It’s all regrets. Make ’em count.” – Sharon shares her philosophy on life and regrets, reflecting on the inevitability of making mistakes and the importance of learning from them.
• Quentin Sellers: “Everything means everything. So nothing means anything.” – Quentin explains his cynical worldview, suggesting that the interconnectedness of everything ultimately renders individual meaning meaningless.
• Ben Manalowitz: “I’m good at finding connections between disparate threads and weaving them into a coherent story. I’ll get to the bottom of this.” – Ben confidently asserts his ability to solve the mystery of Abilene’s death to the Shaw family, setting the stage for his investigation.
• Ty Shaw: “In Texas, people don’t dial the police.” – Ty explains the Texan way of handling justice and revenge, indicating that he expects Ben to help him avenge Abilene’s murder.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $3 million
• Domestic Gross: $4.3 million
• Worldwide Gross: $4.4 million

💥 Vengeance Reviews

Personal Review

I really enjoyed Vengeance! I went in expecting a simple comedy, but it turned out to be much more. I loved the way it explored the differences between city and country life. The ending was a genuine surprise, and it made me think about the stories we tell ourselves. Ashton Kutcher was fantastic; I was not expecting his performance. I found myself reflecting on the movie long after the credits rolled. Definitely worth a watch if you’re looking for something a little different.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of dark comedies”
  • “Viewers interested in cultural commentary”
  • “Those who enjoy mystery thrillers with a twist”
  • “People who appreciate films with strong dialogue and character development”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Drug use”
  • “Violence”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Mature themes”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Vengeance manages to be both funny and thought-provoking, exploring the cultural divide between urban and rural America with sharp wit and surprisingly poignant moments. While the plot meanders at times, the performances are strong, especially Ashton Kutcher’s.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “B.J. Novak’s directorial debut is a clever blend of comedy and mystery. However, the film struggles with its own commentary, occasionally feeling preachy. Still, Vengeance is an engaging watch with some unexpected twists.
• IndieWire: “Vengeance tries to be too many things at once – a comedy, a thriller, and a social commentary. The result is a messy, uneven film that fails to fully commit to any one genre. Ashton Kutcher delivers a memorable performance, but it’s not enough to save the film.

Audience Reactions

Ashton Kutcher’s performance was a standout, elevating the movie’s impact.: Viewers loved the film’s unexpected twists and the exploration of cultural differences.

The film’s humor was dry and witty, providing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.: Many praised the sharp dialogue and the film’s ability to make you think.

Overall Consensus: Vengeance is a mixed bag, praised for its wit and performances but criticized for its unevenness and trying to do too much.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “B.J. Novak said that he first got the idea for the film when he saw a poster for another film titled Vengeance at a film festival. He said that he was struck with the image of his face on a poster with that name on it, believing audiences would be surprised, since that’s not the type of work he’s known for.”
• “The film explores themes of grief, denial, cultural divides, and the opioid crisis in America, wrapped within a murder mystery narrative.”

🖥️ How to Watch Vengeance?

Vengeance is available to rent or purchase on various digital platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for potential broadcast options. Availability may vary depending on your region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Vengeance, you might like these similar films:

• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017): Deals with grief, justice, and dark humor in a rural American setting.
• Wind River (2017): A suspenseful crime thriller set in a rural location, exploring themes of loss and justice with a cultural twist.
• Get Out (2017): Suspenseful thriller with social commentary and unexpected twists, challenging audience expectations.

🛒 Vengeance Related Products

• Vengeance (Blu-ray): Own the film and dive deeper into the mystery with bonus content, including behind-the-scenes footage and cast interviews.
• The Office: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]: Own the complete series from B.J. Novak in his role as Ryan Howard. Experience the iconic humor and heartwarming moments that have made The Office a timeless classic.
• Texas Monthly Magazine Subscription: Get in-depth stories about Texas culture, food, and history, providing a richer understanding of the film’s setting and themes.
• Whataburger Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup, and Original Mustard – 3 Pack: In Texas this is their hot sauce that people live and die by. Grab these tasty flavors for yourself and see if you can handle the heat.

🎧 Soundtrack

Vengeance features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Red Solo Cup” – performed by Toby Keith

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

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✨ Rate