Rent Bodies Bodies Bodies on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Sarah DeLappe (screenplay by), Kristen Roupenian (based on a story by)
Directed by: Halina Reijn
Starring: Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennott, Chase Sui Wonders, Pete Davidson, Myha'la Herrold, Lee Pace
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
When a group of rich 20-somethings plan a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, a party game turns deadly, ensuring in backstabbing, fake friends, and one party gone very wrong.
Verdict
This is a wild movie. On it's surface, a house party turns very, very bad, but you can read rather deeply into this. I assume that's intentional, and it's not just a movie that's easy to ascribe meaning. We see a microcosm of society, from the importance of phones and communication to the consequences of trying to fit in, social media, and creating a facade. A group that claims to be friends quickly reveal they aren't when faced with a critical situation.
It depends.
Review
This starts as a party at young adult David's (Pete Davidson) house while his parents are away. It's a hurricane party which makes you question their rationale. Sophie (Amandla Stenberg) and Bee (Maria Bakalova) show up, but it doesn't seem like they were expected. Everyone seems to be upper or upper middle class except Bee.
They start playing a murder mystery game similar to Mafia, Werewolf, and Among Us. There's already a lot of tension in this group. Sophie's friends seem to be excluding Bee because of her socioeconomic status. Being that most of them are inebriated, they're talking freely and when accusations in the game start, that quickly topples into real world accusations and hurt feelings. Quickly this group seems like fake friends, hanging out for the opportunity of a mansion house party and because they're of the same status.
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| Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova play Sophie, Bee |
It's a smart script that shows a group emotionally stunted and dependent on devices. David lashes out at others due to his insecurity, antagonizing Greg (Lee Pace) who refuses to engage and leaves. David then verbally attacks his girlfriend before storming out when called on his poor behavior. The undertone is that most of this group are entitled and selfish due to rich parents. Greg is a generation older, able to react more maturely.
A death has everyone on edge. They're looking for someone to blame, and it's Greg the outsider. He's confronted by a bunch of strangers with knives and instinctively tries to defend himself. This movie starts wild and just gets crazier. Everyone is quick to jump to conclusions. If you aren't part of their rich clique, you're likely a criminal. Jordan (Myha'la Herrold) and Alice (Rachel Sennott) push Bee outside during the hurricane because they don't trust her, though it seems the underlying reason is that she seems poorer than them. Sophie just watches, doing nothing. That makes it very clear where the lines are drawn. The class divides is inescapable.
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| Maria Bakalova, Lee Pace, Myha'la Herrold, Rachel Sennott, Pete Davidson play Bee, Greg, Jordan, Alice, David |
Each of them always acts in their own self interest, lying as needed. It culminates in a moment of honesty that becomes them verbally attacking each other. These people aren't friends. They hang out for the opportunity of being in the orbit of other rich people. The party serves their self interests. Hanging out provides an image for social media. It's a facade; their lives and their friendships.
The game their playing is about fitting in, lying to do so. That's how these young adults operate in life. Most of them use group think to control that narrative and of course make themselves look better to fit in. This party is an extension of their lack of responsibility.
The way this ends is a trip. It's a surprisingly deep movie. This isn't a slasher, but a look at a particular segment of Gen Z and how they fit into society. Through the plot we see what they consider important as well as their detachment from life and each other.
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