by Jacob Kinman, Contributing Writer
In the last 10 years, A24 has emerged as one of the most unique and diverse production studios in the business. With so many incredible films under their belt like Ex Machina, Lady Bird, Hereditary, The Lobster, Moonlight, Uncut Gems, and Everything Everywhere All At Once, their name is synonymous with interesting and dynamic cinema. Their latest release, Bodies Bodies Bodies, falls right in line with their patented brand.
Directed by Dutch actress Halina Reijn, and smattered with an all-star young cast, including Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennott, and Pete Davidson, the film finds a group of friends hosting a hurricane party in David’s (Davidson) family mansion. David’s best friend, Sophie (Stenberg) brings along a new girlfriend, Bee (Bakalova), a European immigrant who has never met any of Sophie’s friends. Among the group is the annoying podcaster Alice (Sennott), her much older boyfriend Greg (Lee Pace), David’s girlfriend Emma (Chase Sui Wonders), and the mysterious and uptight Jordan (Myha’la Herrold). As the storm rages on, the group decides to play the titular Bodies Bodies Bodies, a game in which one person is randomly selected as the killer, and must hunt down the other players in the dark. All the while, there is an unseen character, Max, who dropped the group off at the house and, after an altercation with David, left and never came back, who is mentioned multiple times. When the group finds a real body amidst the game, the situation devolves into a chaotic murder mystery that gets worse and worse as the film progresses. Everyone, including Max, becomes a suspect.
As a huge fan and admirer of the work that A24 does, and especially after seeing the trailer for this film, I had high expectations going in. Bodies Bodies Bodies is definitely worth the hype. I haven’t had this much fun seeing a movie in a long time. The script is so brilliant in portraying these privileged kids reacting to the real trauma they are facing using the same trauma-focused and mental health oriented language that Generation Z has been associated with. It comes off as both honest and visceral versions of how the characters are feeling, but also as a satire of the overuse of those phrases online. Think words like “toxic”, “gaslighting”, and “silencing”. All of these are valid ways to express your feelings, but are also hilariously ubiquitous in Gen Z culture.
The aesthetics of this film also help in increasing the tension. The lights go out when the game begins, as the rain patters against the window and the wind blows fiercely. Eventually, the power goes out, right in the first major turn of the film, and the darkness of the house, lit mostly by candles and cell phone flashlights, adds even more suspense to an increasingly crazy set of circumstances. The audio during this portion is mostly the footsteps of the remaining friends as they try to make their way to safety and figure out what’s happening. You can see them lurking around, terrified, in the dark, but the sounds of walking and the use of shadows really does the heavy lifting, to great affect.
I don’t want to say too much more about the plot, because this movie is truly a wild ride. Reijn, in her American directorial debut, delivers a hilarious, engaging, and truly surprising film that has a lot to say about youth, love, and relationships in the modern world, while also delivering amazing mystery and horror elements that are unforgettable.
Score: 9/10
You can follow Jacob Kinman on Twitter