History Film / MFA

''M.F.A.'' (a.k.a. ''Revenge Artist'') is a 2017 American thriller film directed by Natalia Leite and written by Leah [=McKendrick=]. The film stars Creator/FrancescaEastwood, Creator/CliftonCollinsJr, Leah [=McKendrick=], Peter Vack, David Huynh, Marlon Young, David Sullivan, Michael Welch and Mike Manning.

** On a larger scale, we learn the campus administration has buried all rape reports so as not to look bad and keep their "clean" record.[[note]]Their actions violate the Clery Act, a federal law that requires colleges to record, and warn their communities about, campus crimes and dangerous situations. In real life, the college administration would've faced fines and monitoring--not to mention bad publicity that would've led to resignations--if someone had reported it.[[/note]]

** On a larger scale, we learn the campus administration has buried all rape reports so as not to look bad and keep their "clean" record.

* DropTheHammer: Noelle beats one of her victims to death with a hammer in the change room at the football stadium.

* PoliceAreUseless: The campus cops at Balboa University certainly are. One of them allows Noelle to walk into the storeroom at police headquarters and walk out with confidential case files. The only crime they manage to stop is Noelle's attempt to murder Calvin, and the cop in question only discovers that because the girl who he was trying to impress at the time points out the fresh blood stain on the ground. Detective Kennedy from the city police is a different kettle of fish and becomes an InspectorJavert in his pursuit of the Campus Killer.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Noelle wears a pink wig as a disguise when she goes to the frat party to seduce and murder Mason. This scene is used on all of the posters and box art.

* RapeAndRevenge: After being raped, Noelle confronts her attacker and accidentally kills him. This then awakens something within her, and she becomes a {{vigilante}}, hunting down and killing other sexual predators on campus.

* DateRape: This happens to Noelle when she goes on a date with her classmate, then into his dorm room where he forces himself on her. Her attempts to find some kind of justice set in motion the events that will turn her into a {{vigilante}}, hunting and killing those who have got away with rape or sexual assault.

''M.F.A.'' (a.k.a. ''Revenge Artist'') is a 2017 American thriller film directed by Natalia Leite and written by Leah [=McKendrick=]. The film stars Francesca Eastwood, Creator/CliftonCollinsJr, Leah [=McKendrick=], Peter Vack, David Huynh, Marlon Young, David Sullivan, Michael Welch and Mike Manning.

* {{Foil}}: Detective Kennedy to Noelle. He doesn't agree with vigilantism, saying it could never be justified and even if her victims were rapists that doesn't excuse murdering them. Shane, on the other hand, is one for the rapists themselves. Unlike them he's nice, but even more, makes sure that Noelle is fully consenting while they're moving toward having sex. When she breaks things off (triggered by a flashback of her rape) and orders him to leave, he does this at once. Later he says it's unneeded when she apologizes later.

* {{Foil}}: Detective Kennedy to Noelle. He doesn't agree with vigilantism, saying it could never be justified and even if her victims were rapists that doesn't excuse murdering them. Shane, on the other hand, is one for the rapists themselves. Unlike them he's nice, but even more, makes sure that Noelle is fully consenting while they're moving toward having sex. When she breaks things off (triggered by a flashback of her rape) and orders him to leave, he does at once. Later he says it's unneeded when she tells apologizes later.

Noelle, a timid fine arts graduate student struggling with creativity, is violently raped by a fellow classmate. After attempting the traditional routes to cope with her trauma, she impulsively confronts her attacker - a decision that has deadly repercussions. Her world is turned upside down as a chilling reality is uncovered: she is one of many silenced sexual assault survivors on campus. A vigilante is born-retribution is the inspiration she's been waiting for.

* TheVamp: After her rape and her AccidentalMurder of Luke, Noelle reinvents herself as a vamp, using her newfound confidence to seduce sexual predators to their deaths.

* SlutShaming: Lindsey, a victim of gang rape, was branded as a slut, with people claiming she'd really engaged in consensual group sex with her rapists, and it's specifically noted many of those saying it were women, even some so-called-friends. It was used to undermine her credibility while they were tried for raping her. All were acquitted, in part due to this.

* ClothingCombat: Noelle seduces one her victims so he takes his belt off in expectation of sex, then chokes him to death with it.

* InspectorJavert: Detective Kennedy. He is not single-mindedly pursing Noelle ''per se'', but is devoted to bringing in the Campus Killer and follows the evidence wherever it takes him, circling around the case until Noelle is the only suspect left. When she explains that the murdered men were rapists, he agrees that that they may have been, but a murder is a murder--regardless of who the victim is--and she does not have the right to inflict her own brand of justice. Ironically, if the original rapes had been brought his attention, rather than being swept under the rug, he would undoubtedly have pursued the rapists with the same dogged determination and brought them to justice, thereby removing the need for Noelle's vigilante justice.