Bodies Bodie Bodies: A must-watch comes to Netflix
Recently, an overshadowed movie has made its way to streaming services, giving you another chance to witness its unhinged insanity for yourself. There’s only one way I can describe Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) outside of calling it a masterpiece that garnered a mere $14 million during its theatrical release: Horrible people make each other cry so that other horrible people will die.
Bodies Bodies Bodies is a murder mystery scripted with our new generation in mind—chronically online characters are friends with people they hate, talk badly, and initiate defense mode during a confrontation. The film follows a cast of seven friends (or, better said, ticking time bombs), all filled with pent-up aggression and waiting to explode. Unfortunately for me, one of the characters is portrayed by Pete Davidson, who—to be fair—did a remarkable job playing a rich, coked-out jerk...Who would’ve thought?
It’s appropriate to include the word “stupid” when describing his character as he invites his friends to stay at his grossly oversized mansion for a “hurricane party.” Surprisingly, the foolishness of that decision has less to do with the dangers associated with the hostile weather and more to do with reuniting tempestuous people with buried feelings and no healthy means of communication, causing inevitable drama and fighting.
There’s tension between the characters during the calm before the—literal and figurative—storm. Any member of a toxic Gen Z friend group could argue that the passive-aggressive interactions in the first 20 minutes are the scariest part of the movie. It’s a bit of a mellow start, but this typical night takes a turn for the bloody when the power goes out during an innocent game of Bodies Bodies Bodies—a variation on the party game Murder in the Dark—leading to a mystery set to unfold through the rest of the film.
It isn’t until after the first death that Bodies Bodies Bodies establishes itself as a hilarious whodunit. From there flows an ebb of physical and verbal escalations: murders, confessions, rage, fights, and lots of screaming. The best part of it all is that the dialogue is ridiculous and scarily accurate to how Gen Z talks, acting as a good reflection for those who follow similar behaviors. While recent movies such as Thanksgiving (2023) and Talk to Me (2023) emphasized the horror of a horror-comedy, Bodies Bodies Bodies does not take itself too seriously with the scare factor. This film is here to make you laugh, a goal this film succeeds in achieving throughout its duration.
My favorite part of the movie was watching the talented Rachel Sennott on the big screen. I loved her starring role in Bottoms (2023) and can gush about her delivery and comedic timing. This movie is no expectation of Sennott’s talent as an actress and comedian, and I hope she becomes a familiar face in the genre.
With its arrival on Netflix on Mar. 20, Bodies Bodies Bodies has helped the many who were unfortunate enough to miss its theatrical release. Its short run time (another aspect catered towards Gen Z), humor, and plot twist ending make this the perfect film to watch with your—hopefully healthier and more stable—group of 20-somethings!
Thumbnail photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons