A strong contender for the position of “every known synonym for stupid”. September 2nd saw the release of Bodies Bodies Bodies, a drama thriller directed by Halina Reijn. Taking place in an upper class home filled with every model of the ‘Gen Z kid’ during a blackout storm.
What happens when there’s no WiFi and no signal ? You probably have a completely different answer than the movie. On the surface the storyline is pretty simple. What happens when a group of 20-something upper classs kids are going crazy off of A class drugs, alcohol and envy?
Immediately the audience is thrown into the deep end and introduced to the very enthusiastic lovers Sophie and Bee. Sophie (Amandla Stenberg) who’s been away at rehab brings along new girlfriend Bee (Maria Bakalova) to the planned storm house party thrown by her group chat and filled with her closest friends. We meet Alice (Rachel Sennot), Emma (Chase Sui Wonders), Jordan (Myha’la Herrold), Greg (Lee Pace) and David (Pete Davidson) who’s father owns the house.
Deep into the storm and fuelled by jealousy Sophie suggest that the group plays Bodies Bodies Bodies, a game that they were all pretty well versed in. It was more like hide and seek with a killer. After Greg was found dead in the game and Alice having an emotional breakdown David decides to leave. A power cut to the house meant that the group dispersed hoping to find a solution. Only for Bee to be met with the bloody body of David bouncing off the window. It’s at that point that the night truly started. Eight hours give or take of accusations, cold blooded murder, hysteria, banishing and finally candour.
Stepping away from the deaths and gore, the movie highlights how influenced and dependent Gen Z are on drugs, love, social media, class and the looming future.
First of all David’s outburst of “congratulations you have a Twitter account” wasn’t only a dig at Greg but the audience too. He’s patronising many of us for relying on social media for education and lessons. Using words we may not know the definition of simply because they’re ‘woke’ or in. Becoming copies of each other because you think that you’ll fit in. Bringing attention to the fact that much of today’s generations lack individuality, personalities are based or influenced by what’s absorbed on social media.
The twisted idea of love, the mismatching of expectations and beliefs that monogamy aren’t necessary. Like anyone young adults have set different expectations for the love that they give or receive, a less expressive generation with more walking away than problem solving. For Bee her heart lies with Sophie, which is interesting because of Jordan’s ambiguous remarks about trusting her or their past. Or how he is clearly still in love with Alice, which fuels his ill mannered behaviour towards Greg despite being in a relationship with Emma.
The pressures that 20 year olds feel are significantly affected by their class too which bleeds through this movie. Upper class kids who many would see as spoilt. Still rely on drugs and partying for happiness. The pressures that they probably feel to be the best from their parents, get into the top universities or in Sophie’s case to be ‘normal’ and not have to have your inheritance taken away because of a drug problem.
The movie has a really silly tone throughout but still manages to capture the raw emotion felt by young people growing up in Today’s world.
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