Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Directed by Karyn Kusama
I saw this movie back in 2009, rented from Family Video. Back in the day Megan Fox was the hottest girl in the world to horned up college guys, so when this movie dropped we were all about it. Hoping to see something, because the trailer had the sex appeal cranked up to about 4,000. I remember being disappointed, mostly because I was a perv and wanted to see more, but also because I found it rather meh. I recently saw it in theater as part of Historic Howell Theater’s 12 Hour Horror Movie Invasion.
Jennifer’s Body is about two friends, Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. Megan Fox as Jennifer, is the super popular, hot girl that all the guys want and Amanda Seyfried as Anita aka Needy, the bookish nice girl. Jennifer makes Needy get out of her comfort zone and Needy is loyal to Jennifer in a world full of people that want her and want to be her. Jennifer makes Needy come with her to see some shitty emo/indie band (it was 2009) at some bar. The show catches on fire, people die and it is traumatic. Jennifer leaves Needy behind to go with the band. Later that night, Jennifer shows up at Needy’s place. She barfs some nasty black bile all over the place, and leaves. The next day Jennifer is noticeably different and starts becoming a succubus, seducing and killing dudes at school. Jennifer was kidnapped and forced into a virgin sacrifice by the band, but she wasn’t a virgin, so she’s now possessed. Needy has to protect her boyfriend and take out Jennifer.
The acting is good. I’ve always enjoyed Amanda Seyfried and she’s got such a unique look, the big eyes and bright smile. She’s cute! She does a great job in this movie but it is a little unbelievable that she’s this nerdy girl that everyone looks over, because he’s legit pretty. Megan Fox, was/is not the greatest actress but she’s charismatic and has that succubus style quality that was perfect for this role. Diablo Coty is the writer of this, from Juno fame. It has some of the quirky dialogue that Juno has but it falls short for me. It is funny to watch this with 2025 eyes, and see Chris Pratt in a throw away role, but he’s there!
Was this movie better the second time around? Slightly, but I still didn’t care much for it. It isn’t awful, but it isn’t great either. It is very much a product of its time. The music, the actors, the technology, and the overall feel. You may love this, and that’s cool, but I would be fine to never see it again. I give this a C-.
