Glow sticks and gore: Bodies Bodies Bodies review

In trying to be both a teen slasher flick and a parody of privileged faux wokeness, it doesn’t maintain the suspense integral to a who-dunnit horror

A24’s Bodies Bodies Bodies is an endearingly silly thriller – with accusations of gaslighting, Whatsapp group ghosting and ableism thrown alongside assertions of murder and beheading in emotional equilibrium, it’s not certain whether this slasher is meant to appease Gen Z or mock them.

In Dutch director Halina Reijn’s English-language debut, six recent graduates arrive at rich kid David’s manor home with the intention of partying hard while waiting out a forecast hurricane. We’re largely following Sophie, who has just come out of rehab, and her new girlfriend Bee, who is the shy and introverted foil to Sophie’s gregarious drug-loving friends. Bored and sober, Sophie suggests playing murder mystery game called Bodies Bodies Bodies. She rather regrets her decision as real bodies – covered in glow sticks and gore – begin to pile up.

This ‘old dog, new tricks’ slasher flick is based on a script from Kristen Roupenian (author of 2017’s Cat Person) and rewritten by Pulitzer finalist and playwright Sarah DeLappe. There is indeed a theatricality to it: the various tensions between the actors unravel like a modern Chekhovian play, all contained within the setting of a grand but remote family home. I can already see the dramatic drawing of curtains as the final scene provides the tragic, almost nihilistic, revelation. 

However a play wouldn’t sufficiently capture the exquisite facial expressions on display, which many of the try-hard-Gen-Z punchlines hinge upon. “Creative non-fiction is a valid response in an attention economy,” exclaims Sophie, her friend’s blood seeping into her neon yellow crop top. But the comedic kudos must go to Alice (played by one-to-watch Rachel Sennott) whose vapid personality is thinly veiled by performative ‘pick me girl’ wokeism: “I am an ally!” and “Don’t call her a psychopath, that’s so ableist!” are merely two of the assertions that will resonate with Reijn’s intended audience. If you’re reading this smugly thinking you aren’t the intended audience – you’re probably the problem.

If it’s not clear already, the film struggles tonally; in trying to be both a teen slasher flick and a parody of privileged faux wokeness, it doesn’t maintain the suspense integral to a who-dunnit horror quite like its obvious inspiration Scream. Nor is its shock ending as clever; while Scream’s finale gave us some sort of cathartic sense of justice, this just fell flat. Some things are best left to the Boomers.

For wine pairings, Bodies Bodies Bodies deserves something with body, body, body. Rex Mundi’s shiraz and grenache blend is a hefter of a red, with notes of black pepper and juicy raspberries. The vineyard is located in Languedoc-Roussillon among the backdrop of medieval castles belonging to the Cathars who lived in awe of the evil god Rex Mundi (‘King of the World’). 

Slightly sweet and on the cheaper end of French reds, it’s also a perfect Halloween party wine that will please uni grads (or if you’re quite past your grad days, this will take you back to when you thought you were officially ‘into wine’ because you ordered it from the Sunday Times Wine Club). Enjoy with naff vampire and witch costumes and a plastic pumpkin bowl filled with Drumsticks and Refreshers.

Bodies Bodies Bodies is on Netflix. Rex Mundi Shiraz Grenache 2023 (£12.99) is available from Laithwaites.