A24’sBodies Bodies Bodies, the directorial debut of Dutch star Halina Reijn, is equal parts hilarious and horrifying. The movie follows a group of twenty-somethings who decide to ride out a massive hurricane in a mansion, though their cavorting quickly sours when one of the friends is found dead. The film features many grizzly death scenes, yet even the film’s goriest moments are generally brought about by slapstick mistakes and comic misunderstandings. It leaves audiences unable to decide whether they should laugh, gasp, or something in between.
There are many instant-classic characters inBodies Bodies Bodies, and each of them is portrayed by a talented actor. The castincludes Amandla Stenberg(The Hate u Give, Dear Evan Hansen) as the wealthy Sophie, who brings her working-class girlfriend, Maria Bakalova’s (The Father, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm) Bee, with her to the hurricane party. Additionally, the film stars Lee Pace (Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel) as Greg and Pete Davidson (Saturday Night Live,The Suicide Squad) as David, whose family owns the mansion. However, one character stands out among the slew of impressive performances: Rachel Sennott’s (High Maintenance, Shiva Baby) Alice.
Here are some of the reasons why Alice is astandout characterinBodies Bodies Bodies.
Rachel Sennott’s Performance
ThoughBodies Bodies Bodiesrepresents Sennott’s highest profile acting role, she has already played several interesting characters in major motion pictures. In one of her earliest projects, she portrayed Danielle inEmma Seligman’s shortShiva Baby. When the film was later turned into a feature-length film, she reprised the role, and her critically acclaimed performance served to raise her profile dramatically.
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Additionally, she played Hannah in Olivia Peace’s 2020coming-of-age filmTahara. Sennott started as an open mic comedian, and her comedic roots are apparent in every role she takes on. The women she portrays are often unhinged and harried, and she manages to make even the most chaotic characters sympathetic. InBodies Bodies Bodies, Alice is a constant source of consternation for her fellow partygoers. The character’s airy personality brings about many hilarious moments, like when she responds to Bee’s admission that she dropped out of college to care for her mentally ill mother by revealing that she has struggled with body dysmorphia, which Alice feels is an emotionally equivalent admission.
Alice Is an Out-of-Touch Podcaster
Alice is a podcaster and hosts a show calledHanging Out with Your Smartest, Funniest Friend. As the title suggests, Alice has a fairly high opinion of herself. Her entertainment career has made Alice obsessed with chasing fame, and she is constantly convincing her friends to participate in internet trends.
Though Alice’s friends seemingly support her podcasting career, a tense argument later in the film reveals that Myha’la Herrold’s (Modern Love, Industry) Jordan only hate-listens to the show. This revelation, which is a complete surprise to the self-obsessed Alice, leads to a violent altercation. Sennott perfectly embodies a stereotypical podcaster who seems to have become involved with it for the sole purpose of hearing her own voice.
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Sennott’s performance successfully makes Alice the most irksome in the film. This is a difficult task given that Alice is likely the most independently successful person among the generationally wealthy party-goers.
Alice and Greg, a Much-Maligned Couple
Alice brings her considerably older boyfriend, Lee Pace’s Greg, to the hurricane party, much to the quiet chagrin of the other party-goers. Greg’s age relative to the other characters, as well as his strange relationship with Alice, are the source of a lot of the film’s early humor. When the first death in the movie, the mysterious throat slashing of David, occurs, Greg is an immediate suspect, and the group’s suspicion skyrockets when a knife is found in his bag.
Alice desperately tries to defend her boyfriend’s innocence, at one point citing the fact that, “He’s a libra moon!” A struggle ensues when Greg becomes understandably hostile after being accused of murder. Bee eventually kills Greg with a kettlebell, which is one of the most brutal scenes in the entire film. Later, it is revealed that David is innocent, and the brutal bludgeoning is entirely unwarranted. Though Alice is generally used as a punchline, Sennott’s performance leaves audiences heartbroken at her lost love.
Alice was the comedic coreofBodies Bodies Bodies, and if the role were given to a less talented performer than Rachel Sennott, the film would have lost a lot of its best moments. Sennott’s performance alone makes the film worth watching, and it will be exciting to see what projects the comedic actor involves herself with next. Her characters perfectly embody stereotypical Gen Z archetypes, which will make her an invaluable asset to future films.
