Jennifer’s Body (Kusama, 2009): Prince Charles Cinema, 6.10pm
This 35mm screening is part of the National Film & Television School student-curated film seasons making their way across London cinemas in the next few months. Details here.
Time Out review:
Described by director Karyn Kusama (‘Girlfight’) as ‘a tribute to the
fierce power of oestrogen’, this coming-of-age horror comedy typecasts
beautiful ‘Transformers’ star Megan Fox as Jennifer, a high school alpha
female in the ‘Heathers’ or ‘Mean Girls’ mould. However, by going
against the grain of the ’80s horror movies to which it pays
affectionate homage – ‘Carrie’, ‘Fright Night’, slasher movies in
general – the script by ‘Juno’ writer Diablo Cody explores the toxic
friendship between Jennifer and her nerdy, speccy bosom buddy, Needy
(Amanda Seyfried). ‘Sandbox love never dies,’ so they are best friends
forever. But when Jennifer’s encounter with a diabolical indie band ends
with her being sacrificed and transformed into a literally maneating
demon, Needy must see through her one-sided girl-crush in order to end
Jennifer’s bloody reign of terror. A welcome antidote to the
sexless romanticism of ‘Twilight’, Kusama and Cody’s female-driven
horror comedy explores the premise that ‘hell is a teenage girl’. When
the far from virginal Jennifer transforms, she simply becomes herself,
but more so: her sexual power is magnified, she glows with health after
feeding, and her cruel selfishness goes into overdrive. But not even
Needy’s sensitive boyfriend Chip (Johnny Simmons) will believe that
Jennifer’s body is now the embodiment of evil. There are
weaknesses: Kusama’s set-piece scare scenes aren’t always frightening,
Cody’s trademark teen slang is occasionally more forced than arch, and
the mysterious psychic connection between Jennifer and Needy is never
explained. But by tapping in to the same vein of ‘hormonal horror’ as
the excellent ‘Ginger Snaps’, this offers a witty, subversive look at
the darker side of teen friendship.
Nigel Floyd
Here (and above) is the trailer.
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