Movie: Jennifer's Body

Looking at the posters for Jennifer's Body you would be forgiven for thinking the premise of the film looks predictable, weak and a bit filthy. At best you may consider watching it as a guilty pleasure, but then when you take in the fact Juno writer (and Academy Award winner, don't you know) Diablo Cody is involved it all gets a little bit more interesting...

It would be easy to dismiss this horror comedy and pick out its failings, but we won't do that. I actually wish I'd been a few years younger when watching it, as I am pretty sure it would have struck the same chord as Heathers did.

To give you the general idea of the plot, Jennifer's Body tells the ever familiar high school bitch Jennifer (Megan Fox) and her geeky yet devoted friend Anita aka 'Needy' (Amanda Seyfried). Of course though there is a twist, after a gig goes wrong Jennifer becomes possessed by a demon she turns from high school girl-evil into plain evil-evil.

The start of the film is hard hitting, including a graphic shot of a woman being kicked in the mouth. It feels as if we are about to watch a much darker film than expected, but then the middle is pretty tame until the ending when it all goes bit (but not enough) into classic horror Carrie mode.

I am guessing that the reason it reins in the potential dark and gory side of the story is to ensure it gets a certificate 15 rating and to allow the comedic, sassy side to come through. This comic relief appears in the form of  'yoof speak' of a similar ilk that was so refreshing to hear in Juno. The dialogue is fast and peppered with cultural references, crude humour and memorable phrases, some that if they take off, Jennifer's Body can coin. For example describing hot boys as 'salty' and breasts as 'smart bombs'; according to Jennifer: "Point 'em in the right direction and shit gets real".

Okay so the dialogue isn't big or particularly clever, but what do you expect from a film that lays the girl-on-girl action thickly?! It seems a bit out of place to have such a heavy lesbian kissing scene in a film that is aimed at the teenage girl bracket, but on second thought perhaps this is what they want to see.... that Katy Perry has a lot to answer for.

Jennifer's Body is a bit ridiculous but the main performances are good and there are some interesting ideas in the underlying story. Plus Adam Brody delivers a great Brandon Flowers impersonation. However the movie is too long (the deaths actually get a bit boring) and it lacks a certain something... perhaps you need to be 15 to watch it.

Jennifer's Body is out now - check out screening times at www.odeon.co.uk