Horror Movie Review: Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)

Bodies Bodies Bodies is a 2022 black comedy slasher film directed by Halina Reijn (in her English-language debut) and written by Sarah DeLappe from a story by Kristen Roupenian. It stars Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Myha’la Herrold, Chase Sui Wonders, Rachel Sennott, Lee Pace, and Pete Davidson.

Bee, a working-class young woman from Eastern Europe, travels with her wealthy girlfriend Sophie to a “hurricane party”. It’s location is a mansion owned by the family of Sophie’s childhood friend David. Other guests include David’s actress girlfriend Emma, podcaster Alice and her much-older new boyfriend Greg. Also the enigmatic Jordan. Another guest, Max, left after a fight with David, the night before Sophie and Bee arrived.

After drinking, using drugs, and dancing, the group decides to play “Bodies Bodies Bodies”, a murder in the dark-style game. The game ends when Greg goes to bed early and David leaves after a fight with Emma. As the storm worsens, the power goes out and the girls scramble to find a power source. Minutes later, Bee finds David outside with his throat slashed, a blood-stained kukri nearby. The group try to go for help in Sophie’s car but find its battery dead.

Greg is suspected as David’s killer after the group discovers he has a go bag with a knife and a map of the area. With weapons, they confront Greg, who is sleeping in the mansion’s gym. Initially disbelieving, Greg realizes they are serious and returns their hostility. After a struggle, Bee bludgeons him to death with a kettle bell. The group doubt that Greg was the killer and Emma theorizes that Max, who had confessed feelings for Emma, returned to kill David. Sophie, a sober addict, relapses. Emma kisses her, to Sophie’s confusion, before accepting drugs.

Alice later finds Emma dead from a head wound at the bottom of the stairs, and believes the group is being killed one by one. Jordan and Alice cast suspicion on Bee, revealing that no one with her name is on record as having graduated from her college. They cast Bee out into the hurricane.

What’s really going on here? Can they figure it out before anyone else’s life is snuffed out? Watch and find out.

Bodies Bodies Bodies is a very hit and miss movie. The dialogue has its moments where it can be really funny. There are definitely some memorable lines that will have me cracking up for some time. But it was tough to invest in the characters and what they were saying when they all lacked chemistry. It’s rare to watch a film where none of the characters feel connected at all but that’s the case here. The two main characters, Bee and Sophie, have nothing going on. Additionally, when Bee is in peril, Sophie oddly just stands around and doesn’t help. For two people who claim to be lifelong friends, Sophie and David feel like strangers.

The concept is solid and entertaining, I enjoyed the satirical nature. However, there were certain confusing scenes and dumb decisions that are hard to ignore.

The gore was great and realistic but very few and far between. Everything benefits from more gore and dark elements and this film is no exception.

The big twist ending is pretty genius and not one I’ve seen before, so major respect for that one.

Overall, if you’d enjoy seeing a bunch of high Gen Z rich kids getting killed off then this is for you. The soundtrack is obnoxious and the comedy is hit and miss. But when they get a laugh, you’ll laugh hard and the twist will have you jumping out your seat.