A bunch of hot chicks and Pete Davidson hang out in a mansion during a storm when bad things begin to happen, but if you think you’ve seen this movie, think again. Some would say the Bodies Bodies Bodies is an allegory for Mr. Davidson’s bafflingly successful dating life, but this horror-comedy is a pleasantly sharp, edgy, and unpredictable little thriller.
The high point of Bodies Bodies Bodies has the remaining survivors of an unexpected massacre turning on each other, espousing laugh-inducing dialogue that serves as a brutal takedown of wokeness. It’s in these moments that director Helina Reijn, working from a screenplay by Sarah DeLappe, really twists the knife and establishes how she’s found the magic formula.
Bodies Bodies Bodies isn’t particularly scary, and while it has many funny parts, it isn’t a riot fest either. And yet Reijn discovers the perfect blend of horror and comedy early and remains ruthlessly devoted to keeping things swirling.
Within that swirl, the terrific cast, headlined by Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give) and Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm), absolutely feasts on the material. Every actor is on fire, though Rachel Sennott (Shiva Baby) is arguably the standout, giving a snobbishly amusing performance. Lee Pace is great, too, but again, everyone here is great.
Bodies Bodies Bodies has some excellent deaths, too; Reijn isn’t afraid to get bloody, but gore is less important than the punctuating effect the deaths have–whether shown on screen or not–on the audience. She’s just so in tune with the story’s pulse that every little move, from a character’s sideway glance to them getting bashed upside the head, plays for entertainment value.
Even better, Bodies Bodies Bodies ends in memorable fashion. The movie is lean, mean, and funny, and the final minutes will leave you with your jaw on the floor.
Entertaining, but not in ways you’d expect, Bodies Bodies Bodies is the horror movie you didn’t know you needed in your life. Funny and dark, this one is ruthlessly satisfying. And no, certainly not because of Pete Davidson.
Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.