BODIES BODIES BODIES - Movie Review

BODIES BODIES BODIES is the latest from A24.

‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ is a combination of slasher antics and dark comedy served up for fans of ‘Euphoria.’ It is as if ‘Clue’ has been reassessed in the image of Generation Z, complete with TikTok, group chats, and pop music. Nevertheless, it successfully pulls off its social commentary while providing plenty of laughs and thrills.

A24’s newest film, directed by Halina Reijn.

It centers on a group of seven friends weathering a hurricane together in a remote mansion. The house is stocked with the hurricane survival essentials – food, water, flashlights, and more. Additionally, there are enough drugs and alcohol to keep the group occupied for more than a few days. The friends play a game called (you guessed it) Bodies Bodies Bodies. It is where one person is secretly designated as “the killer,” and they have to (pretend) kill off someone in private. Predictably, the game becomes real when people start dying, and the friends scramble to figure out how and why they are being murdered.

The stakes are high since their lives are on the line, but the quarrels are comically petty. For example, one friend never texts back in their group chat,. There is another friend who has a podcast that the others mock in private. The film takes an interesting dive into a common theme within groups of lifelong friends. The friends you made as a child may not be the same type of people you pick as friends in adulthood, but at this point, you’re stuck with them. These themes, with trivial comedic arguments and gruesome deaths peppered throughout, make for an engaging watch.

There’s a fun pool of talent in the film.

Maria Bakalova stars after recently stealing the show in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. There are also familiar faces, like Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give, The Hunger Games), Lee Pace (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Hobbit trilogy), and Pete Davidson as David, the host of the party whose family is unimaginably wealthy. Most characters bring their own quirks and charms, while some are unbearable enough that you’re almost hoping they’ll be the next killed off, adding to the fun. Those looking for a true slasher may leave feeling underwhelmed since other focuses prevail over jump scares or other traditional horror elements. Others might find the over-the-top privilege of the wealthy 20-somethings unbearable, but that’s also part of the point.

Verdict

I give ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ 4 out of 5 stars. The tone blending is a nice update to a tired and traditional slasher genre. This could frustrate those looking for the film to lean harder into any category. However, the conclusion is as hilarious as it is satisfying, rounding out the satire nicely.