Bodies Bodies Bodies | Yes, it’s possible to call a generation out without insulting us

 Bodies Bodies Bodies… where do I even begin with this movie?


Wait actually, I do know where to begin.

August 2022, as I sat in my room awaiting a reply from a friend online, I got bored, I decided to watch something, to keep me occupied and well that movie was Bodies Bodies Bodies.

This movie being thing I watched after trying to get through season 1 of Riverdale, I felt amused. That this movie was actually relatable. I don’t think anyone is going to ever get over the fact that upper-middle class is used as a major insult, almost slur in this movie. Anyways yes, I felt seen watching this movie. I wasn’t exactly happy knowing that I felt right at home watching a movie about a bunch of 20 something paranoid rich brats, but I did and that was new.

I was happy to see that these characters didn’t feel like mouthpieces for 40 year old writers to bitch about how ungrateful and disgraceful gen z kids are, I was happy to know that while these people were annoying beyond compare they were annoying in the way actual people I know are annoying.

That brings me to the point of this blog, I want to talk about how gen z as a generation is not one I’m proud to be a part of but I’m still glad to know I will never be lumped in with the monstrosities that are gen alpha kids. Just kidding, no I’m here to talk about how it is possible to satirize and critique and bring out all the horrendous flaws of a generation without having to talk down to us.


Narcissistic tendencies with a side of hypocritical thoughts

Bodies Bodies Bodies is one of those movies that just hits you right at home and you can’t even be mad about it. In this age of social media and internet isolation, it’s hard to know when you’re pretending and how to be authentic to yourself. When tailored algorithms keep shoving people who are living the life you want into your face and basically hammering it into your head that you’re doomed, it seems almost impossible to come to terms with the fact that not everyone is your competition.

Bodies Bodies Bodies preys upon this notion, introducing us to a friend group that’s so fragile and self-absorbed they basically berate each other and at any chance and put each other down like they’re being paid to do it. I mean imagine your recovering addict friend comes home after a long hard battle with themselves and you mindlessly drown in champagne to signify the start of a party.

The movie revolves around technology and phones, the latter half of the film is almost fully lighted by phones. Jordan googles Bea and exposes her based on her findings on the internet, Alice literally dies because of an argument which starts with Sophie accusing Jordan of hate-listening to Alice’s podcast. Greg and Alice meet each other on tinder and despite being with him for weeks Alice doesn’t even know his middle name and instead finds the fact that he’s a libra-moon more important.



My point is, the movie highlights how technology builds our anxieties to do better while we simultaneously try to bring others down to our level because if we aren’t the greatest no one can be. It also critiques the narcissistic tendencies of gen z, Alice goes on and on about how mental health is an issue and then Jordan immediately proceeds to threaten and scream at Bea calling her a red flag because her mother has BPD. The superiority complex is even more evident when you just look at Jordan as a character. I mean… the girl tricks herself into believing she is in fact not from a well off family and is a hard worker who has earned everything in life. Don’t even get me started on David, he’s like the walking manual for how to not be a jealous, egotistic douche.

Sucked back into the presentation vacuum

Instead of spending time trying to spending time trying to establish these characters as people we should care about, the movie let’s them speak for themselves, it’s almost as if we’ve been thrust into the group ourselves, it’s uncomfortable to sit through for us just as it is for the other characters. I think this is one of the best creative decisions made for this movie, unlike many other slasher movies or other movies about gen z, we just go straight to it, there’s no sob story, no intro to everyone. The movie in this straight to the point sense, contradicts itself perfectly, while the characters try their best to keep their reputations intact and not be outlawed by the group, their actions and interactions lay it down bare for us. These people don’t really care for each other, they just still stick together because they don’t want to be alone, even it means being in the suffocating presence of people they can barely tolerate they still stay with each other.

This aspect of the movie is really how I’m sure the movie isn’t talking down to us, while critiquing gen z and putting all of our worst moments out on display, the movie still subtly explores the inability to be true to yourself because of performance, when we put ourselves out as already amazing people, there’s no room for improvement, for true learning and growing. Sophie could have just understood that her relationship with her friends is something beyond repair, yet she comes back unable to move on with her life, she comes right back to the people who had a hand in her old toxic ways.

The way the whole thing plays out, makes sure that we know that while these characters are almost unbearable, they are human, grossly, unhealthily human. They’re stuck with their egos and refuse to improve and that this their downfall. That’s why it works, because we know deep down they are capable of being better and that speaks to us. The movie could have just left us with you know they’re just stupid let’s move on but now, it shows us exactly why these people doomed themselves. the last dialogue of this movie is “I have reception”, this could be taken cynically, that there’s no out for us from technology, but for me it’s the fact that there’s no out, but we can limit ourselves and keep our peace instead of deluding ourselves with perfectly executed algorithms and woefully performed friendships.


Wrapping it up

Multiple elements of the movie only work because this a gen z film that is simply saying it as it is. At the end of the movie when it is revealed that Pete Davidson’s character was not murdered but accidentally stabbed himself while making a tiktok really wraps this movie up with a nice bow. These people, instead of using braincells and trying to find David’s phone or talking, crumble like the cookies they are and just full on start attacking each other. There was no killer, no one was out to get them, it was their own distrust and paranoia that caused this. What could have been solved with some understanding and cooperation was blown out of proportion.

This movie actually manages to point out the fact that gen z-ers need lots and lots of reality checks and that we need to stop living so much of our lives trying to make it seem like we’re amazingly, cool people who do edgy things and actually put effort into being better people, both for ourselves and so we don’t end up accusing people of murders because we’re insecure, without making us seem like shallow dumbasses with no brains.


This was Lux everyone, thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. Until next time.
Stay Sunny.

 

Comments

Post a Comment