Bodies Bodies Bodies
review by Bobby Blakey
The horror/thriller genre is one that lends itself to all sorts of storytelling and direction. The slightest story adjustment means everything in the tone of what they are trying to convey. The latest walking the lines between drama, thriller and dark comedy is Bodies Bodies Bodies starring Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Myha’la, Chase Sui, Rachel Sennott, Lee Pace and Pete Davidson. Could this film bring all the elements needed to solve the case or will it just rack of bodies for no reason?
Bodies Bodies Bodies follows a group of 20-somethings who get stuck at a remote family mansion during a hurricane and a party game ends with a dead body on the ground and fingers pointed everywhere. As they try to find the killer among them, fake friends and real enemies have to learn who to trust and how to survive.
Going in I knew next to nothing about this film which is often the best for these kinds of films and this was no different. It is a film that is infused with drama, murder, mystery and everything in between. It delivers a decent flick, but feel like at times it got a bit confused to the movie it wanted to be.
When the film is focused whether it be on the bonding friendships, the betrayal of each other or the murder mystery itself it works well, but having them all here at the same time doesn’t always work. It uses the usual trope the friends past and issues to try to create the list of who could be the killer right out the gate. While waiting to see where it is going in that department it does a good job of building some suspense and depth to the characters establishing the issues and bond they may or may not have. This back and forth does wear thin after a while as the audience is waiting for something to happen.
When it gets into the murder mystery of it all it gets even better as you try to solve the case and watch everyone come unraveled. This is not a horror film so those hoping for that you will be sadly disappointed. That being said it does manage to keep you guessing and entertained with this element allowing not only the mystery forefront, but also the tension to build trying to figure out who dun it. There is a great pay off that some will no doubt figure out, but I still applaud for taking that route that changes the tone of the entire experience at the end.
This film has some issues and pacing problems, but the good cast bring it home and offers up something still worth checking out as long as you know the type of film you are getting. Decide for yourself and check out Bodies Bodies Bodies available now on Blu-ray and DVD from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.