VENGENCE attempts a few things in its journey across modern America. A state of the nation piece is one thing, he is attempting. Another is to bridge the cultural divide. B.J. Novak writes, directs and stars in this murder mystery come comedy, come thriller. He is New York radio host Ben Manalowitz. A podcaster of middle to low level popularity and a lot of money to fall back on. With little interest in anything but his ego, he lives an empty life. Has casual interests in life and even more casual fun in bed but when Ben learns that a woman from his past died of an overdose, he embarks on the long journey to Texas for the funeral. Once there, he discovers the deceased woman, had led her family to think Ben was her number one beau. The family also believe that she was murdered by an unknown assaliant who plied her with drugs and then took her to a place called, ‘the next place’ to make it look like a suicide. Looks like Ben has his next podcast idea.

So the disc is empty of any extras bar a trailer, so lets not venture down there. I will now venture down the road of review for the sake of reviewing. I hadnt seen Novaks film prior to this but on watching it, on seeing what he was trying and failing to achieve, I found out a little about what is at its core. The problem in America, according to VENGENCE is the break between south and north and the understated view, that those down there are mentally subnormal. Potent as this narrative may be, it is a false one. The south is deeply broken. On family, language, race and identity terms. All exacerbated by corruption, business and political interests and of course, a failed system of government. Novak doesnt have time for all of these layers. This is clearly where it fails mind. The lack of cohesion in his conclusion. He instead plays it for jokes. These are fish out of water mainly and more at his than their expense. He does but dig into reality though, which is really refreshing. The washed face of Ben however is too obvious an analogy of us all in the ‘intellectual fields’. He humanises himself and those he with. Firstly studying and then working with them to achieve his goals. Novak directs much of this very well. Framing, performance from his cast and delivery. He cant act mind but its the creation that counts here.