[Film Review] Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)

ReviewFilm ReviewHorror
Written By Jerry Sampson / Senior Contributor

A24 has proven itself to be one of the most reliable and bold of the studio bunch. Whether you’re looking for folky, psychologically buggering terror (The Witch), the brutal destruction of a family unit (Hereditary), sexy young teens on a crime spree (Spring Breakers), or mind-boggling feats of horror strength (MEN), there’s something for every genre-loving filmgoer on the A24 slate. Now, for the Gen-Z set, Bodies Bodies Bodies twerks its way onto the scene with some of the funniest, smartly written, TikTok-fueled young adults to get hacked and slashed. 

While admittedly leaning a bit on stylistic banter and neon rave-culture cliches, Halina Reijn’s Bodies Bodies Bodies offers a cool new take on the slasher genre, following a group of early 20-somethings and Greg (a jaw-droppingly hot Lee Pace) as they gather for a party to pass the time through a hurricane. When bodies start to hit the floor, suspicions rise amongst the friends, with secrets and sex threatening lifelong connections, as well as new relationships.

If I’m being honest, while the entire cast of young actors (Rachel Sennott, Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Pete Davidson) are perfectly realized and give complex, rounded performances, the real standout of this film is the hurricane. The atmosphere that the raging storm creates is where the tension is built and sustained. Utilizing phone flashlights and glow necklaces to light much of the film helps bottle the fury and frenzy of the blood-soaked night, creating palpable fear and a real concern for all involved. 

While the film didn’t escape the requisite buzzword chats throughout, including an extended scene that felt like a bit of improvisation that slowed down the frenetic energy built to that point, Bodies Bodies Bodies manages to be scary and funny, has a kick ass soundtrack, a mood-setting score, and well-crafted scenes that never fail to either make you cackle or make you cringe (in the best possible way).

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Jerry Sampson / Senior Contributor

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