Bodies Bodies Bodies: A Bloody Good Time
A (Mostly) Spoiler-Free Review
Halina Reijn’s Bodies Bodies Bodies is a bloody romp through the ridiculousness of Gen Z relationships that include group chat etiquette and TikTok dances, but not in an obtuse way that feels like a caricature from someone of another generation. Unfortunately, the characters’ treatment and manipulation of each other feels authentic to reality.
The film begins with Sophie (Amandla Stenberg) and her new girlfriend, Bee (Maria Bakalova), arriving at a remote mansion to party with Sophie’s friends during an impending hurricane. Right off the bat, Bee leaves the mirror light on in Sophie's car, leaving that “no escape” dread looming. Even though the film begins as many horror movies do: a group of friends, a big house, and no escape, it quickly turns into a delightfully funny time with the group of friends Sophie; Bee; Jordan (Myha’la Herrold); the host of the party, David (Pete Davison) and his girlfriend, Emma (Chase Sui Wonders); and Alice (Rachel Sennott) and her very new older boyfriend, Greg (Lee Pace). The group begins the evening by deciding to play, Bodies Bodies Bodies, a murder mystery game where accusations quickly fly about who the “murderer” is, but things rapidly grow tense when David and his girlfriend Emma get into a fight that leads to David storming off. That is when the bloodshed truly begins. Bodies begin piling up as the friends turn on one another until the film crescendos in one perfectly planted-and-payed-off final twist that caps off this dark, comedic ride. The moments of terror and levity come at just the right beats, and don’t let either linger longer than necessary. This is mainly due to the cast's harmonious blending of these horror-comedy elements, treating even their most guffaw-inducing moments with sincerity.
Sennott’s standout portrayal of Alice brings a comical desire to be liked while being a ringleader in the most enduring way. Her vocal-fry-filled “David”s are a delight akin to those of Schitt’s Creek’s Alexis Rose, and her delivery of quippy one-liners land flawlessly. The most noteworthy is her defensive delivery of “he’s a libra moon!” as the remainder of the friends accuse Sennott’s two-week-romantic-partner, Greg, of murder. While Sennett’s is the standout, all of the other performances harmonize together wonderfully. As David, Davidson essentially plays a version of his public persona, but he knows his strengths and gives his all with his limited screen time. Pace is another light on-screen as Alice’s meditative, older “vet” boyfriend who evokes jealousy from David, which begins the film’s conflict during the game. Wonders plays an actress and never gives the audience too much of her character’s true personality, similarly to Herrold’s portrayal of Jordan, who you can’t quite tell if she’s lying or laying it all on the line. Finally, the comedic Oscar nominee, Bakalova, defies expectations by playing one of the most reserved and initially mysterious characters with a naivety that the other characters don’t have. Stenberg’s Sophie lays most of her cards on the table, and Stenberg gives her the false self-assuredness she puts on while struggling in her battle with addiction. Each actor brings their freshness to the film, creating an intricate balance of light and dark.
It isn’t anywhere near perfect and it occasionally it gets too into being a cool Gen Z flick, but ultimately, Bodies Bodies Bodies is a harrowing and hilarious treat that flows so quickly that you just might want to see it again.