Katelyn Benschoter-

The time is upon us. The air has become crispy and pumpkin spice is everywhere; it is officially fall. That means the urge to watch a horror film has become a need. There are, of course, many classic Halloween films that have become staples of the season, such as Scream or Halloween, but this year I will be watching the 2022 horror/comedy film Bodies, Bodies, Bodies. This film was directed by Halina Reijn and stars Amanda Stenberg, Rachel Sennott, and Pete Davidson. The film follows a group of wealthy, privileged, and out-of-touch 20-somethings who become stuck in a remote mansion during a hurricane. What at first seems like a fun getaway with a group of old friends, quickly becomes a nightmare when they find one of the guests dead. This leads to a “who done it” storyline, attempting to find out who in the house is the murderer. Without revealing too much, bodies continue to drop and the film ends with a twist that perfectly demonstrates how self-absorbed the youth of today are. This film truly transcends what a horror film can be, and leads the audience to wonder what makes a monster, a monster. Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, while at its core is a horror film, is also darkly comedic from start to finish. The film pokes fun at the “out-of-touchness” of our modern-day society. The film makes a point to illuminate how little 20-year-olds actually care about the world around them. It is satire, but it still makes a point. The group of friends is seen making TikToks, doing drugs, drinking, and repeating. Since the rest of the friend group was partying away while the murder happened, it poses the question of just how much Gen Z missed because they are too self-absorbed in their own lives. When they discover the dead body, everyone turns against each other, blaming one another for the murder. This sparks the conversation about “fakeness” amongst young people, as well as pretending to care about something for the sheer purpose of fitting in. Therefore, when something like a murder happens, the curtain comes down and true feelings are revealed. The film does an excellent job of maintaining a balance between social commentary and simply being funny. It is very funny to see people who are so dramatically out of touch that they do not even care that a hurricane is happening. They are dancing drunk in the rain, rather than trying to stay safe. It’s hilarious.

Rachel Sennott’s character, Alice, was a real standout for me in the film. Throughout the film, she has numerous unexpected one-liners and impeccable comedic timing. Since the film’s debut in 2022, several of her lines have gone viral amongst apps like TikTok. At one point, she cries out that she’s an ally, and in another scene, she gets into an argument about whether or not she is upper middle class. Sennott is effortlessly funny. The reason I recommend this film so heavily for this Halloween season is because of how Reijn flipped what a horror film can be on its head. There is some light gore as the bodies continue to drop, but that is not where the horror comes from. Unlike in many classic horror films, the scare does not come from a big masked monster, but rather from people just like us. The audience watches as modern 20-year-olds become so wrapped up in the heat of the moment that they lose themselves, thus turning all of the characters into the monsters of this film. The twist at the end of the film reveals that no one else had to die, but the friend group was blinded by their own selfish ways. Reijn uses the horror film storyline as a backdrop to emphasize just how far humans will go to not be in the wrong and, in this case, that means killing. In many ways, seeing humans just like us kill is scarier than watching a non-human monster. The viewers may ask themselves, is that something that could happen to me; am I just as fake?

Bodies, Bodies, Bodies is an excellent pick for a fall movie night to get into the “spooky season” spirit. Personally, I find it to be an idealistic horror film as there is no true gore or jump scares but rather human
selfishness. It is a dark comedy that perfectly captures the conversations around fakeness, selfishness, and gaslighting that modern 20-year-olds are having. It also illuminates how while many Gen Z-ers think they are being ultra-progressive, they are quite the opposite. The cast is packed with talent and amazing comedic timing. Unfortunately, I am confined to a word count, but I seriously cannot say enough good things about this film. It combines fun, horror, and media references, all while opening up space for reflection on the state of our world. I give Bodies, Bodies, Bodies a 10/10, but do not let me speak for you. Go watch it yourself, and see what you think. I bet you will thank me later.