Why Bodies, Bodies, Bodies has redefined the horror/comedy genre in 2022

As mentioned, time and time again this year. The horror genre is booming, being a consistent draw in cinemas and consistently grossing well at the box office. The blend of horror and comedy has also become a staple of the genre. In 2022 we got a few horror comedies, but none quite like ‘Bodies, Bodies, Bodies. ‘Bodies, Bodies, Bodies’ was written by Sarah DeLappe and Kristen Roupenian and directed by Halina Reji, with an impressive ensemble cast including the talents of Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennot, Pete Davidson, Lee Pace and Myha’la Herrold. The film's premise essentially revolves around a group of friends who are puckering down for a Hurricane party, in David’s (played by Davidson) parents’ mansion. After bodies start to show up, the friends quickly turn on themselves with the threat of a killer afoot. The premise is simple, but it’s the other elements that help make up this incredibly clever and well-written story. To celebrate the film's release on DVD, I will today be breaking down why ‘Bodies, Bodies, Bodies' has helped redefine the horror/comedy genre in 2022. So, let's take a look at this one.

Who did it? The amazing cast –

The best part of any whodunit is trying to work out exactly who did it and how it was done. To pull this off you have to have an incredible cast, and Bodies, Bodies, Bodies might just have the best cast of 2022. With the likes of Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennot, Pete Davidson, Lee Pace and Myha’la Herrold. The cast all play off each other superbly, feeling like a barely functioning group of actual friends. The standouts for me were Lee Pace’s middle-age, alternative character, Greg and Pete Davidson’s rich, spoilt character David. The two play well off each other beautifully in their brief moments that they share together on screen. The rest of the cast are great as well, with Amandla Stenberg and Maria Bakalova characters also providing great leads for the film. Their toxic relationship feels oh so real and the way the film ends with these two characters is nail biting.

The balancing act – how to manage two competing tones –

One of the hardest things with a horror comedy genre film is the melding of the two genres. Some films go too far in one direction, either making the horror too funny or making the film too scary. Bodies, Bodies, Bodies does a great job of toeing the line, ensuring that the film remains tense, and thrilling, with a few frights along the way, without ever feeling too scary. The film also is hilarious, with laugh out loud moments aplenty throughout its runtime. The film had me laughing and thinking about its themes long after the credits rolled, which is a testament to the writing/directing trio of Sarah DeLappe, Kristen Roupenian and Halina Reji.

Another one bites the dust – the death scenarios –

One of the hallmarks of any whodunit and/or slasher film, is the nasty scenarios in which a character bites the dust. Bodies, Bodies, Bodies is no exception here with some nasty kills that will be sure to have you looking away from the camera. Without getting into detail of which characters die, lets just say we have a machete death, a nasty stumble down a flight of stairs, a fall from a great height, a misconception that leads to the bludgeoning of a character with a kettlebell and an accidental gunshot wound fatality. It's bonkers but will be sure to appease genre fans and horror die-hards.

‘Bodies, Bodies, Bodies’ is a smart, well-crafted comedy/horror that makes for a fun movie-night film. The cast are all great and the film's messages never feel overbearing or forced. This is a must watch for genre fans and will prove to be a good Christmas present for those after something a little tense. Bodies, Bodies, Bodies is now available on DVD. Head on over to your local Sanity or online to secure your copy today. 

Buy Bodies, Bodies, Bodies on DVD here

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here