Opening September 18th, “Jennifer’s Body” is the latest teen horror gore flick being offered up, seemingly in endless supply, by Hollywood. While most shock-and-awe style horror movies have some initial, morbid-curiosity appeal but ultimately fizzle, “Jennifer’s Body” is at least, on the surface, different.
First of all, “Jennifer’s Body” screenwriter and Executive Producer Diablo Cody, of “Juno” fame, has taken the threads of a demonic, vampire-styled thriller and spun them into something more. With her wicked sense of humor and ability to execute believable portrayals of teen angst and emotion, Cody attempts to take Jennifer’s Body to a new level.
“Jennifer’s Body”, which is rumored to be named so in homage to an old Hole song of the same title, is the story of a beautiful high school cheerleader (Megan Fox), Jennifer, who was living a charmed life…until an encounter with members of a rock band (who, apparently, are really members of a satanic cult) leaves her possessed.
Newly possessed, Jennifer confides in her best friend (Amanda Seyfried) Needy that things are…different. What Needy doesn’t realize at first is that Jennifer’s version of ‘different’ include brutally killing the local, lust-filled boys that often longed to prey on her during her ‘normal’ life, and still do, unaware of the danger they are in.
Even when Needy knows what Jennifer is doing, she is powerless to stop her…yet. Needy has always been the follower, feeling at once unworthy and lucky to be allowed to bask in Jennifer’s presence. And here, as in any good horror flick, Jennifer’s Body takes a twist…
Though aware of Jennifer’s evil deeds (and Needy truly recognizes Jennifer for what she is, making this movie far more tongue-in-cheek than, say, some ‘monster-in-the-closet’ or haunted house flick), Needy remains almost infatuated with her friend. In fact, there is a racy scene where Jennifer (Fox) and Needy (Seyfried) share a kiss. As “hot” as that may be, especially in the eyes of the majority of men aged 15-30, those going to see “Jennifer’s Body” just for the rumored girl-on-girl action and lesbian lip-locks will stay for what comes next…the twiiiiiiist!
Jennifer can get any guy she wants; and when she does, can easily use them to her amusement and then dispatch them without mercy, like a Black Widow or Praying Mantis. Needy, however, is far more subdued and possesses a more understand beauty, shall we say. Stereotypically speaking. Needy wears glasses (of course), has limp, dishwater blond hair and an awkward gait. Compared with Jennifer’s sleek, dark locks, chiseled face and sexy style, Needy is practically a country bumpkin, and she knows it. everyone knows it. But then, a boy comes along…one who prefers to court Needy, thus catching Jennifer’s attention simply by overlooking her.
Needy becomes enraged when she sees Jennifer’s focus turn to her man, especially knowing that should he succumb to her temptations, his fate would be sealed. Needy has little choice; she has to kill Jennifer. She has to kill her best friend; her idol; part of her self. But Jennifer is an equal opportunity killer when cornered, as she tells Needy in a scene from the Jennifer’s Body official trailer. When Jennifer begins to confront Needy physically, Needy says, “I thought you only killed boys?!”, to which Jennifer replies in a cheeky-but-evil kind of way, “I go both ways.”
So, what happens? Does Needy take Jennifer out once and for all? What about the twisted young men who brought Jennifer to her fate in the first place; will justice serve them? Audiences will just have to wait and see how the little details play out when “Jennifer’s Body” hits theaters on September 18th, 2009.
This teen-horror-flick black-comedy-esque production has the potential to satisfy audiences seeking gore and laughs alike. Not to mention that Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried same-sex smooch! In an interview with MTV, Fox says that kissing her female co-star felt “safe” and that she was “more comfortable kissing her than most guys I’ve worked with”. Fox stated, however, that she didn’t think Seyfried was anywhere near as comfortable with the kiss.
Regardless, both ladies were able to put themselves out there for the sake of their “Jennifer’s Body”, just as many great female actors before them have done. Actresses like Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron and others have all participated in same-sex love scenes for films they’ve worked on.
On top of cute female leads locking lips, and one going on a blood-thirsty rampage through their quiet farm town, there’s one more stand-out reason to let “Jennifer’s Body” pull you in: the soundtrack. Artists such as Panic At The Disco, Silversun Pickups and Dashboard Confessional fill in the rough spots and make for a very appropriate ambiance throughout the film.
Sources:
Jennifer’s Body movie trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYQ19JM_M1g
Jennifer’s Body IMDB page: IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1131734/
Jennifer’s Body Review (Spoilers): http://www.latinoreview.com/news/exclusive-jennifer-s-body-story-details-3616
Reference:
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYQ19JM_M1g
- www.imdb.com/title/tt1131734/
- www.latinoreview.com/news/exclusive-jennifer-s-body-story-details-3616
