Bodies, Bodies, Bodies (2022) review – A Razor-Sharp Satire On The Terminally Online
Bodies Bodies Bodies: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A razor-sharp, satirical, and riotously funny “whodunit” that swaps traditional slasher tropes for biting Gen Z social commentary. Bodies Bodies Bodies thrives on its vapid, self-obsessed characters and a script that weaponises internet buzzwords to create a whirlwind of paranoid chaos. While the horror elements are relatively light, the film excels through its fantastic ensemble cast, particularly a standout Rachel Sennott, and a mounting sense of mistrust that feels both hilarious and deeply uncomfortable. It is a stylish, neon-soaked romp that culminates in a brilliant twist ending that recontextualises the entire film. A clever and highly entertaining 3.7-star horror-comedy.
Details: Director: Halina Reijn | Cast: Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennott, Pete Davidson | Runtime: 1h 34m | Release Date: 2022
Best for: Fans of satirical horror, “Knives Out” style mysteries, and viewers who enjoy seeing toxic group dynamics unravel in spectacular fashion.
Worth noting: The film’s use of practical lighting, mostly torches and iPhone screens, was a deliberate choice to enhance the claustrophobic, “offline” feeling of the hurricane setting.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video (Rent/Buy)🛒, Apple TV, Sky Store
Rating: 3.7/5 Stars
(Sharp satire, brilliant cast, fantastic twist ending)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are checking out another horror movie from the past few years – Bodies Bodies Bodies. This movie is something of a comedy “whodunit” with teen horror and slasher elements. Director Halina Reijn mixes things up to keep the viewer off-base while the mystery element builds.
Table of Contents
Not what you might think
The story follows a group of friends meeting up for a “hurricane party” at a remote mansion. After the storm hits and the fun moves indoors, the friends decide to play “Bodies Bodies Bodies” – a guessing game tasking players with discovering which of them committed a murder. Little do they realise that the game will become all too real after a horrifying discovery.
“Poking fun at young people, the terminally online, and a whole bunch of horror movie tropes, Bodies Bodies Bodies has no interest in taking a single thing seriously.”
I remember seeing the trailer for this a few weeks before it released. Man, what a roller coaster that was. At first it seemed as though this was going to be yet another formulaic slasher movie. After a minute or so, however, it became clear that Bodies Bodies Bodies was just a little different. This wasn’t going to be a run-of-the-mill horror. This was something a tad more unique.
The overabundance of internet speak and buzz phrases, initially, seemed a bit cringe and ridiculous. It became clear, however, after about a minute or so, that this movie was going for a far more satirical approach to horror. Poking fun at young people, the terminally online, and a whole bunch of horror movie tropes, Bodies Bodies Bodies has no interest in taking a single thing seriously.
Sarcastic comedy horror
This is almost as much of a comedy as it is a horror. What would, otherwise, be a pretty generic slasher is propped up massively by some brilliant scripting and a keen focus on poking mild fun at Gen Z. Overuse of traditional Gen Z buzz phrases like “triggered”, “enabling”, “gaslighting” and an entire cast of vapid, two-dimensional 20-somethings keep this movie light and, at times, rather clever.
Characters are placed into a situation where they have no electricity, no phones and no internet. Forcing them to interact in more traditional ways; something that the majority of the group are ill-equipped to do. Personalities clash, deep-held secrets are uncovered and irrational decisions are impulsively made digging the group deeper and deeper into chaos. And that’s without mentioning the supposed killer stalking the mansion.
The group’s surface-level knowledge of each other and paper-thin relationships mean they distrust each other hugely. Turning the movie into a good old-fashioned whodunit the likes of which you really don’t see that much anymore. Nobody is beyond suspicion and some clever movement of characters keeps everyone worthy of doubt. It’s compelling stuff.
Fun throughout
The kills take a while to get going. We are dropped in on the group the day after a fight took place between two members, David (Pete Davidson) and Max (Conner O’Malley). Max left and is yet to return. The group are also joined by an older man, Greg (Lee Pace), who is the Tinder date of one of the women, Alice (Rachel Sennott).
We kick things off travelling with Sophie (Amandla Stenberg) and her girlfriend Bee (Maria Bakalova). Sophie has been somewhat estranged from the group so it is a surprise to the others when she arrives. It’s made clear that there is some muddy history between her and some of the others.
“The fantastic acting, brilliant script, compelling whodunit story and genuinely surprising ending will be more than enough to keep you entertained. Great fun.”
Indeed, there isn’t a single person here who is beyond suspicion which keeps you guessing throughout. Some of the kills we see, others happen off-screen to push forward the mystery element. As a popcorn horror movie, Bodies Bodies Bodies works pretty well. This really isn’t where its strengths lie, though. It is the character interactions that really draw you in and this is where the real meat of the film is.
A constant build of tension and mistrust begins to brew early on. All, eventually, reaching a peak somewhere in the second half. It makes for a massive explosion of conflict that is, by far, the best part of the movie. Some very clever scripting and some legitimately hilarious dialogue tears apart already frayed relationships and marches the movie towards its conclusion. It is brilliant stuff and the twist ending makes everything even better, forcing you to mentally backtrack through the film to unravel just how everything went down.
Excellent acting
Let’s be real, the cast here are horrible. It’s a bunch of self-entitled rich kids who you would never want to associate with in real life. They are utterly self-important and riddled with personality problems. There is virtually nobody to root for here and plenty of reasons to dislike almost everyone. With that being said, the acting is fantastic throughout. Pete Davidson is hilarious, Amandla Stenberg is decent, and Maria Bakalova is great. Everyone does a brilliant job.
“Rachel Sennott really stands out, absolutely nailing literally every scene she is involved in. She is the most obnoxious character but, by far, the most well-acted.”
It’s Rachel Sennott who really stands out, though. Completely getting her character and absolutely nailing literally every scene she is involved in. The way she flip-flops on opinions and delivers some utterly ridiculous statements completely straight-faced is fantastic. She is the most obnoxious character but, by far, the most well-acted. Brilliant stuff.
Direction is great! There are some really nice shots and some excellent scene setting with hazy neon blues and pinks punctuating some of the more interesting moments. Pacing is decent; there is a bit of lag in the middle but nothing that feels too obstructive or slow. There are a few parts of the movie that feel a bit cheesy but, on reflection, that feels rather intentional given the cringey cast.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Sharp Satire: The script is a masterclass in modern irony, perfectly skewering the “performative” nature of Gen Z relationships and social media culture.
- Rachel Sennott: A powerhouse performance. Sennott delivers some of the film’s funniest lines with a deadpan earnestness that is simply brilliant.
- The Ending: One of the most inspired twist endings in recent memory that manages to be shocking, hilarious, and entirely consistent with the film’s themes.
The Bad
- Unlikable Characters: By design, the cast is composed of vapid, narcissistic individuals, which may make it difficult for some viewers to stay invested in their survival.
- Slow Start: The movie takes a fair bit of time to establish its dynamics before the first actual “body” drops, leading to some early pacing issues.
- Light on Horror: Those looking for a traditional, high-stakes slasher experience may find the heavy emphasis on dialogue and comedy a bit of a let-down.
The Ugly: The “Group Therapy” Session. A scene of chaotic, drug-fueled honesty that sees the group’s “friendships” dissolve into a mess of buzzwords and betrayal.
Should You Watch Bodies Bodies Bodies?
Yes, absolutely. It’s a solid 3.7-star horror-comedy that manages to be both culturally relevant and genuinely surprising. It’s a stylish, neon-drenched romp that proves “whodunits” can still be fresh and fun.
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