Justice is all in the execution.|Mar. 04, 2022|United States|97 Min.|R
Genre: Action;Drama;Thriller
Description: Since its emergence in mainstream cinema during the 1970s, the “rape-revenge” subgenre has remained a persistent element in film. With the rise of discussions around media representation, the #MeToo movement, and the increasing demand for female representation both on and off-screen, it’s no surprise that recent years have seen a resurgence of rape-revenge films. Notable examples include critically acclaimed titles like *Elle* and *Promising Young Woman*.
*Asking for It* (2022), the underwhelming feature debut of writer-director Eamon O’Rourke, arrives late to the conversation, offering little substance or originality. The film follows Joey (Kiersey Clemons), a small-town waitress, as she befriends Regina (Alexandra Shipp), a regular at her diner. After Joey experiences date rape due to a chance encounter with an old acquaintance, Regina introduces her to the Cherry Bombers, an all-female vigilante group. The gang includes the fiery Beatrice (Vanessa Hudgens) and their mentors, Sal (Radha Mitchell) and Fala (Casey Camp-Horinek). Each member has endured trauma inflicted by the patriarchy and has channeled her personal quest for vengeance into a broader mission to combat misogyny.
Their latest and most ambitious plan is to take down Mark Vanderhill (Ezra Miller), the toxic leader of the Men’s First Movement (MFM), whose rhetoric blends men’s rights activism with incel ideology. Despite the potential for a compelling narrative about unity and resistance, the film glosses over these moments, leaving its characters poorly developed. While the cast, particularly Clemons, demonstrates talent, they are given little to work with, resulting in a lackluster execution.
Cast director: Eamon O’Rourke
Cast actor: Kiersey Clemons, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexandra Shipp, Ezra Miller, Radha Mitchell, Gabourey Sidibe, Casey Cott, Leslie Stratton, Casey Camp-Horinek, Leyna Bloom
Original name: Asking For It