Revenge is not just a “double-edged sword.” It is a bottomless black cauldron filled with complexities and pain. The new horror film Restitution takes all of that in, then exploits it above and beyond what is typically offered in the oeuvre of violent, cinematic vengeance stories. Newcomer Danny Draven has magnificently made his mark as a director.
The striking look of Restitution grabs you right away. Thanks to the superb cinematography of Nick Ramsey, the movie transmits to your brain images of beautiful nature in bright, vibrant colors. It was a smart choice from Draven to open his movie with something pleasing to the eye, a touch of beauty to relax the viewer into the story and the movie itself. It feels as if Draven is saying “trust me, you’re in good hands.” Better still, Draven knew that the viewer needed some light before Restitution’s main course of darkness and blood.
From a compelling script by Mark Allen, Restitution tells the story of Mia (Coel Mahal). She’s a young woman infused with a bloodlust to avenge the brutal slaughter of her family by a big, monstrous man. For years Mia has fantasized about permanently punishing her family’s murderer. Now, the time has come. Secluded in a desolate area, inside Mia’s cabin, there sits the man (Jonathan Shores) who Mia firmly believes is the beast that destroyed her family, and decimated her life.
The questions run rampant. Is Mia facing the right man? Is her sanity sound enough to tell the difference between the guilty and the innocent? Can Mia do what she has set out to do? What does Mia want, anyway? Is it just revenge, or is there something else?
What works so well with this film is that it offers up a lot more than your typical revenge movie. The film dares its viewers to pass judgment on the story and its characters as one frame follows the next. The story’s set-up may appear familiar, so passing judgment on what happens seems only natural. One could easily have the “we’ve seen this before” mentality. Yet Mark Allen’s screenplay and Danny Draven’s film offers more than just one story to consider.
Contained within the movie, there is another tale told right in front of your eyes. It is something you may not have seen before, especially with a horror movie. If you don’t pay enough attention, if you don’t allow enough consideration for what happens in the story, you’ll miss it, as well as the true spine of the film. Don’t miss seeing Restitution, especially with a keen eye and an open mind.
