Film Review: 'Bodies Bodies Bodies'

Self-obsessed hot girls, alcohol, attractive men, recreational drugs, thumping bass, neon lights, TikTok and of course, murder. Hurricane parties are a delight when all your friends are rich. Not to forget the timid Bee, girlfriend to one of the aforementioned hot girls creeping around. All this packed into one brief but amusing movie, “Bodies Bodies Bodies” by Dutch director Halina Reijn.

(Left to right) Chase Sui Wonders as Emma, Pete Davidson as David, Maria Bakalova as Bee, Amandla Stenberg as Sophie, Myha’la Herrold as Jordan, Rachel Sennott as Alice and Lee Pace as Greg. Credit: A24

Clashing lips open the horror-comedy to the sound of bustling nature as we see Sophie (played by Amandla Stenberg) and Bee (played by Maria Bakalova) enjoy this intimate moment. A delicate “I love you” scene takes place and is then subverted by hypersexual lyrics from the films first soundtrack song, “Daddy AF”. Nerves are racked up as the new couple reach the house of hot girls located in a very cliché setting – the middle of nowhere. The supposed companions of Sophie are reluctant to indulge in joy when greeting her, especially since she hasn’t even bothered to text the group chat, the polar opposite is seen in Alice (played by Rachel Sennott) showering her non-texting friend in affection and conversation but really just not wanting to cause an awkward moment because the cinema audience can already tell by this point that the happy couple aren’t welcome at the hot girl endorsed hurricane party.  

Commentary fills the scenes between, some of which comes as eery warnings by Myha’la Herrold (playing Jordan) and others just reminiscing on the past (Pete Davidson who plays the ever so charming modern man, David), all before the alcoholic shots and marijuana infused chocolate cake consumption begins. Heavy vibration beats drop off and the games begin, “Who wants to play bodies bodies bodies?” says Sophie catching the attention of everyone. After minutes of these rich kids droning on in Generation Z appropriate slang, the audience is glad to see a nice round of slapping to the face to commence said game. At this point, you feel happy to see the group struggling it out in a mansion, exactly how Reijn wants you to feel, but this is all before the attachments to the characters begin and the killer starts to hack away.  

Bee and Sophie pause to overlook the disturbing scenes in the party house. Credit: A24, Gwen Capistrian.

A mash-up of recent pop culture mixed divinely with classic cliches of teen horror. You are never quite sure when to laugh or hide behind your hands in this film, the should I be on edge or not question the whole way through makes it so pleasurable to keep watching. The mix of screaming and laughing is beautifully crafted into this film. On the surface, it appears tacky and just a modern attempt to re-make what was done in the 90s but that’s why it’s so brilliant, it doesn’t try too hard. This movie knows it’s a cliché and it loves itself for it – just like the hot girls love their own reflection in an iPhone 11 screen. The film closes with “Hot Girl” specially made by Charli XCX for this film, the self-assured lyrics confirm to you what you have just watched as though the whole film plot is going ‘you know you love us and we love us too’.  

At an hour and 35 minutes long, this movie is a perfect snapshot of tacky, classic and humorous horror, a mix of the macabre and mascara is always lovely. This film is fun and you feel that watching it, no matter how narcissistic or rude the characters are you either want to be them or befriend, no matter the horrors they face you want to be there too and, in the end, you want to be there too figuring it all out.  

★★★★☆ - An easy, fun watch for anyone wanting a perfect balance of archetypal teen giggles and thrilling slasher gore. This English debut by Reijn is sure to be a new classic for all.