Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Personalized picks at your fingertips

Get the mobile app on iOS and Android

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Measure of Revenge

By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Dull, lifeless tale of bloody vengeance-seeking.

Movie NR 2022 92 minutes
Measure of Revenge Movie Poster

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

In MEASURE OF REVENGE, celebrated actor Lillian Cooper (Melissa Leo) is happy to have her son, rock star Curtis (Jake Weary), home from rehab -- and even happier to learn that Curtis is planning to marry his girlfriend, Olivia (Jasmine Carmichael), who's pregnant. Unfortunately, Curtis and Olivia turn up dead, and it appears that they've overdosed on a deadly drug called P.M.A. But Lillian suspects foul play and tries to seek vengeance on those she deems responsible. Her first stop is a photographer/drug seller known as Taz (Bella Thorne), who once took pictures of the band. Once Lillian learns the identity of her targets, she needs an alibi, so she stages a production of Hamlet, casting herself as Hamlet's mother and thus giving herself a small window of time every night to get her revenge.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This flat, lifeless thriller could have been worthwhile if it had actually used its theatrical themes to add some twisty layers or if its exploration of the concept of revenge hadn't been so generic. Measure of Revenge is so bad that not even Oscar winner Leo can make Lillian seem like an actual working actor. With so many plum roles on her resume, you'd think Lillian would be a little more savvy, like All About Eve's Margo Channing, but she comes across as skittish and naïve. The movie occasionally slips in "ghosts" of Lillian's past characters to offer her advice, but these moments seem almost random, as not all of the lines or characters are identifiable, and some of them are certainly not from classic plays.

If the movie had used Lillian's theatrical knowledge to find and punish the culprits, Measure of Revenge might have been fun, but instead it's a dead serious, by-the-numbers account. Lillian believes that she has the right to kill everyone who killed her son, and there are no gray areas; the movie seems to believe that, too. It's likewise somewhat clueless about the way the world works, and depictions of the music business, the photography business, and the theater business all feel awkward and inauthentic. All of this adds up to a movie that lacks all nuance, as well as a driving force. It's dull and inert and -- strangely -- it lacks a screenwriter credit. Perhaps whoever wrote it took "measure" of the situation and jumped ship.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Measure of Revenge's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?

  • How are drugs depicted? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why is that important?

  • How does the movie depict revenge? Is it a solution to a problem? Why is revenge problematic?

  • Did you notice any diverse representations in the movie? What's notable about the lead character in the play of Hamlet?

  • What are some of the great plays or works of literature that are referenced here? Have you read them or seen them performed? Did watching the movie inspire you to learn more?

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate