My Review Of Jennifers Body 0
I wasn’t sure to expect when going to see Jennifer’s Body. The movie was written by stripper-turned-screenwriter Diablo Cody, who also penned the 2007 Oscar winner Juno. Juno was a comedy about a teenager’s unplanned pregnancy (and can be seen on Dish Network’s premium channels), while Jennifer’s Body was about a man-eating girl-turned-demon. Sort of a change in tone here, yet not really. Both movies were marked with hipster, self-aware dialogue, such as “Don’t be Jell-O” (jealous) and “Honest to blog.” Let’s be honest, nobody talks like this in the real world, but it’s still catchy and makes the exchanges snappy and unique.I didn’t think I would be all that enthralled with Jennifer’s Body, mostly due to the hype surrounding its debut, but I can say now that it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
It’s unfortunate that it bombed at the box-office this weekend (the movie pulled in just shy of $6 million), but I still believe it’s one of the best horror movies of the year. In the film, Transformers babe Megan Fox plays the titular character, a sultry cheerleader who is a bit of a fish-out-of-water in the backwoods town of Devil’s Kettle. She is easily the most desirable girl at her high school, where she is BFFs with the mousy Anita “Needy” Lesnicky (Amanda Seyfried from Mamma Mia! and Mean Girls.) One night, Jennifer convinces Needy to come with her to the local seedy watering hole to watch up-and-coming indie band Low Shoulder perform. While there, a fire breaks out, killing dozens of patrons, and Jennifer is dragged off into the woods by the band.
This is when the movie shifts into horror mode. In a tense and creepy scene later that night, Jennifer shows up in Needy’s house looking bloody, disheveled, and harboring a serious appetite for meat. Before Needy can figure out what’s wrong with her best friend, Jennifer spews some disgusting black liquid on the kitchen floor and then disappears into the night. Turns out the band needed a sacrifice to appease the Dark Lord in return for him making them “as big as Maroon 5.” The only glitch was that the girl they chose (Jennifer) was no virgin, and as a result of the sacrifice gone wrong, a demon has inhabited Jennifer’s body. Now Jennifer needs to devour a new boy every few days to feel “full” and be back to her old self again. Needy confides in her boyfriend Chip (Johnny Simmons), but he doesn’t believe her until local boys begin to go missing. It’s up to Needy to stop her friend’s reign of terror before Jennifer inevitably devours the entire male population of Devil’s Kettle.
The movie promised to be a mix of Mean Girls, Heathers, and horror, and I think in most aspects the movie succeeds. The banter between the characters is quick and witty, and there is a snarky, sarcastic vibe to the proceedings that tells the audience that the film does not take itself too seriously. It could have benefited from a higher body count, but I was still pleased that we got a few likeable characters in the form of Needy, her boyfriend Chip, and poser goth-boy Colin Gray (played by the very likeable Kyle Gallner, who was also outstanding in The Haunting in Connecticut earlier this year.) It also was very reminiscent of the types of films we used to see in the 80’s (such as The Lost Boys), and I really enjoyed the tone throughout the film. Megan Fox, who we all know was not cast for her acting ability, was very good here and, although she was essentially playing herself, she’s nowhere near as bad as some reviewers are making her out to be. Jennifer is supposed to be vapid and self-serving, yet Fox is still able to infuse some vulnerability and insecurity into her performance. The gore is never over-the-top or gratuitous, and the musical cues used throughout the film set the mood accordingly (I especially enjoyed Low Shoulder’s single “Through the Trees,” which essentially becomes the anthem for the fire tragedy at the bar and is played several times throughout the movie.)
I saw this film with a girlfriend of mine who is not a fan of horror movies and she loved it. Personally, I have never been a fan of the Saw series or the watered-down PG-13 remakes that seem to be dominating the horror market these days, and I am always on the lookout for horror movies that are cool, quirky, unique, and well written. This year has produced some gems as Orphan and Sorority Row, as well as Halloween 2 (a movie that definitely did not play it safe and had many fans divided.) I can say that Jennifer’s Body ranks up there with some of the best of the year, however, it is a “love it or hate it” type of movie and I think that is the reason it did not perform well. Movies that are “different” than what the mainstream audience expects always have trouble finding their place, and sometimes it takes years for them to catch on. Take the horror anthology Trick ‘r Treat, for example. The movie was completed in 2006, yet despite all the positive buzz and glowing reviews that touted it as “one of the best Halloween movies ever made,” Warner Brothers delayed the movie for years and is finally dumping it on DVD this October.
Although I’m thrilled I will finally get to see it, why is it that studios shy away from the things that break the mold? If they do not star the latest incarnation of Jason or Freddy or Jigsaw they are considered a liability. The majority of audiences seem too concerned with “playing it safe” than venturing out into new territory. People wonder why we have so many remakes – well, it’s because the studios are afraid to try anything new for fear of rejection. So they stick with what works. As long as people pay to go see crappy remakes or sequels, the studios will continue churning them out. In short, if you are a horror movie fan, or a diehard movie fan in general, go see Jennifer’s Body and support it. For the doubters who are less easily swayed, I still recommend going to see this movie. If you go into the theater expecting some silly campy fun with zingy one-liners and hauntingly gloomy cinematography, you will feel you got your money’s worth. If that doesn’t convince you, then just wait for the DVD. Considering the box office take it should be out in a mater of no time anyway. Also be sure to check out:-Orphan -Halloween 2-Sorority Row -Friday the 13th -Drag Me To Hell And honorable mention of the year goes to My Bloody Valentine. Coincidentally, the writer and director behind MBV, Todd Farmer and Patrick Lussier, have both signed on to the next film in the Halloween franchise – Halloween 3D, which is due out summer 2010.
By: Frank Bilotta
Frank helps people learn about Dish Network Satellite TV, and how they can save money every month with popular Dish Network Packages. Dish has advanced, award winning, Dish DVR and Dish HD receivers, there is a lot of good news to share. Frank and his team also help people determine if satellite internet is right for them and, if so, helps explain the offers from WildBlue and Hughesnet
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