Bodies Bodies Bodies

Release date: 9th September, Cert - 15, Run-time - 1 hours 34 minutes,

Director - Halina Reijn

A simple murder-mystery game between friends attending a party leads to an actual series of murders.

Over the last few years the murder-mystery genre has received something of a revival on the big screen. Often some of the figures who pop up will have their satirical edges - 2019’s Knives Out certainly did and the upcoming sequel so far appears to be no different - however, not as many to the heights of those which form the ensemble cast of Bodies Bodies Bodies.

Screenwriter Sarah DeLappe and director Halina Reijn, alongside the highly energetic leading cast, have formed a very modern whodunnit veiled within a darkly comic horror. It feels from the same vein as 2017’s superb Ingrid Goes West as we see a group of friends assemble in an expensive house to spend a hurricane partying. After much consumption of drink, and some drugs, sights are set on a simple murder-mystery game. However, a not-always-harmless round of Bodies Bodies Bodies soon devolves into an actual series of murders with the group trying to work out who the killer is.

There’s a knowing wink as the line “I’m just saying, every time we play this game it gets ugly” is dropped, a mild teaser for what’s the come as the bodies begin to pile up over the course of the night. The way into much of this madness (largely pushed by lack of light and internet connection) is through the eyes of Maria Bakalova’s Bee; being introduced to her girlfriend Sophie’s (Amandla Stenberg) friends for the first time. It’s clear that there are rifts within the group that have been growing over the years, it adds tension to their night and plenty of humour for the audience.

This is a ‘Gen-Z comedy’, there’s no denying that. However, thanks to the levels of satire which are present the film manages to broaden itself out to work for other demographics. Much of this stems from the cleverly-written screenplay which allows for the various one-liners and quips to feel natural. When we finally get to a key confrontation the balance between the comedic and dramatic is wonderfully handled to make the most of your engagement, keeping hold of you throughout - as has been the case throughout the short 94-minute run-time.

As for the occasional horror elements they’re effectively placed into the lining of a handful of scenes to create a sense of tension amongst everything else that’s going on. It’s testament to the balancing of the film that it’s able to juggle these various tones without stumbling and simply making for a more entertaining time.

Everything comes together to create a sharply funny, energetic piece of work which knows exactly how to cater to its target audience while also bringing everyone else along for the ride. Highly original and thoroughly entertaining, Bodies Bodies Bodies isn’t without its serious elements, keeping you in place throughout and sticking to its early promise that the characters indeed aren’t “as nihilistic as they seem on the internet”. Jamie Skinner -Four stars