JENNIFER’S BODY (2009)

With special guest Kate Thompson

Intro, Math Club, Debate Society, Hot for Teacher (spoiler-free): 00:00-31:16
Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy): 31:17-1:03:26
Superlatives (spoiler-heavier): 1:03:27-1:18:27

Director Karyn Kusama
Screenplay Diablo Cody
Featuring Adam Brody, Megan Fox, Kyle Gallner, Chris Pratt, Amy Sedaris, Amanda Seyfried, J.K. Simmons, Johnny Simmons, Cynthia Stevenson

Released September 18, 2009
Budget $16 million
Box Office $16.2 million US & Canada/$31.5 million worldwide

SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS

Jennifer Check and Anita “Needy” Lesnicky are best friends living in the town of Devil’s Kettle, best known for its waterfall and high school football team.  When Jennifer suggests she and Needy step out to see a band, Low Shoulder, at the local roadhouse, Melody Lane, Needy’s reluctant.  She’s rather spend the night with Chip, her boyfriend.  But Jennifer's nothing if not persuasive. Upon arriving at Melody Lane, it’s clear the band is a bunch of locals posing as hipsters from the city.  But Jennifer’s entranced by the lead singer, Nikolai, who she finds “salty,” and as the set heats up, so does Melody Lane.  A fire soon engulfs the bar, and after escaping, Jennifer and Needy are beckoned to the band’s van.  Jennifer succumbs, but Needy runs home, only to find Jennifer in her kitchen, beaten, bloody, and gorging herself on Boston Market chicken.  What's happened?  And what does it mean when certain members of their high school class end up dead, mangled, drained of their blood?  Needy suspects something bigger than a few random murders at play, and wonders if maybe, just maybe, her bestie’s at the center of it all.

SPOILER-FREE GUEST BIO

Kate Thompson is a small animal veterinarian by day and a horror movie aficionado by night who has a special affinity for the campy, gory, and feminist side of horror.  As co-host of The Nightlight Horror Movie Club podcast with her best friend and fellow vet, Ariana, they explore the darkest corners of horror cinema, presenting a unique blend of movie reviews and mini-episodes, true crime, creepypastas, urban legend, and all things 'spoopy.’ Favorite recess snack: Everlasting Gobstoppers.

EPISODE NOTE

Music from Jennifer’s Body by Andrew Ampaya and Ryan Levine.

Why did Professor Louryk choose this film? Find out in our Blog.

COINCIDENCE CORNER

TRAILER

SUPERLATIVES

The Gaspar Noe Award for Most Disturbing Scene
Kate: The abduction and attempted sacrifice of Jennifer
Eric: Needy’s dress at the formal
Bradford: Attempted murder of Jennifer to a cappella cover of 867-5309

The Ellen Ripley Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Live
Kate: Jennifer
Eric: Colin Gray
Bradford: Colin Gray

The Michael Myers Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Die
Kate: Chip
Eric: Nikolai
Bradford: Nikolai

The Ken Russell Award for Most Baroque Screen Moment
Kate: The Needy goes after Jennifer to kill her demon post-prom scene
Eric: Home invasion scene; Jennifer chows down on Boston Market, etc., then vomits ferrofluid
Bradford: The Needy goes after Jennifer to kill her demon post-prom scene

The Brad Dourif Award for Character Who Could (or Should) Have Been Played by Brad Dourif
Kate: Jennifer (also the embodiment of Dourif)
Eric: The guy who picks up Needy at the end, played by Lance Henriksen
Bradford: The guy who picks up Needy at the end, played by Lance Henriksen

FINAL LETTER GRADE

Kate: A+
Eric: B
Bradford: A