Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Amanda Seyfried and Megan Fox star in director Karyn Kusama and screenwriter Diablo Cody’s 2009 bisexual horror classic JENNIFER’S BODY. The film was Diablo Cody’s follow-up project after winning the Academy Award for penning JUNO in 2007 (Best Original Screenplay). Unfortunately, JENNIFER’S BODY didn’t find an audience when it was released.
JENNIFER’S BODY
2009. USA.
Director: Karyn Kusama
Screenplay: Diablo Cody
Starring: Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, J. K. Simmons, Amy Sedaris & Adam Brody
JENNIFER’S BODY is about the close friendship between two teenage girls. The film begins with Needy (Seyfried) and her bestie, Jennifer (Fox), going to a local bar to see an indie band. Unfortunately, the male band members have planned to sacrifice a young woman to help them achieve fame and they target Jennifer.
The attack on her is one of the most difficult scenes to watch because it is meant to mirror an act of s-xual violence. When Needy discovers her afterward she is understandably changed. Though, instead of being altered by trauma, Jennifer has become a man-hungry succubus.
JENNIFER’S BODY was marketed as a sexy slasher-flick for horny male teenagers – though, it turned out to be a feminist horror film that subverts the male gaze.
Needy calls her affection for Jennifer “sandbox love” because they grew-up together. She denies her queerness, and even has a boyfriend, but her attention and adoration is always directed to Jennifer. It also blinds her to Jennifer’s meanness until she realizes her friend is actually evil.
The tension between the two builds from glances, to handholding, to a passion-driven makeout/bisexual awakening. What makes this scene different from the usual male-gaze driven girl-on-girl action is that it was a necessary progression in the relationship of the characters – plus, it also helps that it’s written and directed from a female perspective.
If this film were to be made today, and marketed for what it was, it undoubtedly would have been a lot more successful. That being said, it now lives on as a cult classic.
You can find it on DVD/Blu-ray, streaming on Disney+ (Canada/UK/Mexico/Australia) & for rent/purchase through AppleTV & Amazon.
