Directed by Halina Reijn, Bodies Bodies Bodies is a comedy slasher film that’s full of Gen Z laughs and stabs at the fragile internet culture we live in. Characters Sophie, who’s newly sober, (Amandla Stenberg), her best friend David (Pete Davidson), David’s actress girlfriend Emma (Chase Sui Wonders), Jordan, the “parent” of the friend group (Myha’la Herrold), and Alice (Rachel Sennott), whose personality revolves around her podcast, are a mess of a clique. When these rich, 20-somethings get together for a “hurricane party” things take a turn for the worst during a party game. Shocking twists take us through a new take on the “who’s the killer” genre.
From the opening makeout scene, Reijn establishes the film as an edgier take on classic slasher flicks. To amplify the edginess, sassy, bratty pop music soundtracks the 20-somethings journey from the trip to the mansion (there’s even a song called “Hot Girl” penned by Charli XCX to describe the characters). The attitude in the music translates to its characters as they poke and prod at each other’s insecurities throughout the hurricane party gone wrong. Things take an intense turn during the game “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies” when it results in an actual dead body left on the back patio. From here, fingers begin to point and egos are set aflame. The cinematography is another highlight of the film, as it pushes the chaos to new levels. The viewer is forced to watch the characters navigate a power outage with nothing but glow sticks and cell phone lighting – creating an intense spotlight effect.
Bodies Bodies Bodies isn’t all fun and games: When the girls are figuring out who the killer is, fragments of information are thrown out and they’re forced to sift through emails, texts, tweets and ads from every direction to uncover the truth. The script uses a light-hearted comedy/horror film to explore the consequences of a fragmented life; here in reality, we’re still without a clue.
In all, it’s hilarious fun watching these vain souls try to uncover the killer. While not given a large amount of screen time, Pete Davidson makes his presence known with his unwelcoming persona. On the other end, Rachel Sennott’s portrayal of a podcast-star-in-the-making is vapid yet all too real. Some viewers may not understand the Gen Z slang, satirical approach, or the light tone of the film. However, if you’re able to lean into these themes, the movie becomes an enjoyable Halloween slasher.
Other October Rentals on DISH:
Bullet Train
Vengeance
TÁR (Early Access)
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
