Jennifer's Body - Heathers, But Queer

Jennifer’s Body is a teen horror-comedy, where most of the laughs come from how very weird teenagers are and an overexaggerated representation of American High schools. What makes Jennifer’s Body stand apart from the likes of Heathers, is the queer subtext running through the entire movie – which is a very good thing.

The movie focuses on the aftermath of Jennifer (Megan Fox)’s abduction by a boy band, and the strange creature that she turns into as a result. Is she a vampire? Is she a succubus? It’s not clear; all that’s important is that she’s wreaking havoc on her high school, by picking off any boy that her best friend, nicknamed Needy, (Amanda Seyfried) is getting close to.

It’s full of quotable one-liners, mostly from our main lead, and it’s intriguing to watch Jennifer’s development as she delves further and further into blood and guts, though still seeming to mourn the creature she’s become. Or, more aptly, the person men have turned her into. The metaphor for slut-shaming writes itself. Though, if the movie is read this way, has some depressing implications about the fate of fallen women. An easy fix, if Jennifer was the one who was given the agency to hunt down her killers.

Instead, that job falls to Needy. A satisfying act of revenge for her best friend, to be sure, but feels like more of a punch line than a comeuppance. Not to mention, this is the same best friend she stabbed in the boob – again, taking away what little agency Jennifer had. And even reading this movie as queer leaves us with the Bury Your Gays Trope. Maybe it’s best to rework the last ten minutes of the film, if it ever ends up with a remake.

Let’s talk more about how gay this film is. Because Needy and Jennifer, as characters, are a tale as old as time. Needy is the quiet, nerdy girl, whilst Jennifer is the popular outgoing one. Complete opposites, and yet genuinely the best of friends. It’s clear from Needy’s long gazes at her – from briefly joined hands at the pub – that she is, conscious of it or not, in love with Jennifer. It hits the universal – is she my best friend, or am I in love with her question that resonates with so many young people.

And Jennifer’s decision to mostly go after boys who Needy likes is definitely telling of her own feelings of love and possession over her friend. Not to mention the symbolism of only being able to be killed when their heart-shaped ‘BFF’ necklace is destroyed.

Needy is Jennifer’s heart.

The symbolism, and the yelled line, “I go both ways,” may even be a little bit too on the nose. Still, the corniness and less than stellar representation is what has made this film a cult, queer classic, and there’s something great about that.

It also sets a good example of toxic female friendships. Jennifer is suffocating, and Needy frees herself from that demon. In that way, the Kill Your Gays can be somewhat forgiven.

Both Fox and Seyfried play their parts well, on top of that. Needy’s transformation and Jennifer’s stagnation are both written and acted well, with genuine chemistry between the two girls. They are a joy – and very pretty – to watch.

The soundtrack is pretty much what you’d expect from a teen movie, with tracks as obviously hitting the mark as they would in an episode of The Vampire Diaries. It only adds to the enjoyability.

Overall, its easy to see why this film is becoming a cult classic. It’s witty, amusing and features a compelling, yet toxic love-story. If anyone’s looking for another teen black comedy to turn into a musical, this would be the top of my list.