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Article by Sabrina Boyer
As a kid my dad would sneak scary movies past my mom and let me indulge in his horror movie fetish. I grew up watching V, Alien Nation, The Thing, The Fog (all originals) and then, in 1992 when Buffy the movie came out, I became obsessed with vampires, girl power, and all things gothic. I once stayed home from school, faked sick, and watched BTVS: the movie 6 times in a row. I know the beginning cheerleading dance by heart (still). Currently, I'm obsessing over Laurell K. Hamilton novels, and dream about Anita Blake being my best friend. 12 Comments
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I liked this review, even though I had major issues with this movie.
I read countless interviews with Cody about this film, and I will admit, I was victim to pre-judging. Mostly because Diablo Cody was praising her film as some sort of feminist breakthrough, even though she was saying absolutely nothing that would make me believe that her film was going to be the savior of all representations of girls in horror films.
Megan Fox was actually one of the parts of the movie I liked the best–I think she handled Diablo Cody's quirkspeak better than any actor I've seen so far (Rainn Wilson, for shame), and she was pretty effing creepy as a demon. Also, the emo band bashing was spot on and hilarious.
But in the end, this movie just falls apart for me. I felt like Cody sacrificed a coherent plot in order to project her messages. And I am not one who is impressed with character spouting off feminist phrases, no matter how cool they are, if the movie itself fails to provide a semi coherent narritive.
I liked this review, even though I had major issues with this movie.
I read countless interviews with Cody about this film, and I will admit, I was victim to pre-judging. Mostly because Diablo Cody was praising her film as some sort of feminist breakthrough, even though she was saying absolutely nothing that would make me believe that her film was going to be the savior of all representations of girls in horror films.
Megan Fox was actually one of the parts of the movie I liked the best–I think she handled Diablo Cody's quirkspeak better than any actor I've seen so far (Rainn Wilson, for shame), and she was pretty effing creepy as a demon. Also, the emo band bashing was spot on and hilarious.
But in the end, this movie just falls apart for me. I felt like Cody sacrificed a coherent plot in order to project her messages. And I am not one who is impressed with characters spouting off feminist phrases, no matter how cool they are, if the movie itself fails to provide a semi coherent narritive.
Well, since you asked, my dislike of Megan Fox lies in the fact that I don't find her to be a very good actor. All of the characters I've seen her play (which is, admittedly, just the first Transformers, and the trailers for her more recent movies) come across as vapid and/or slightly disconnected from reality. And Megan herself doesn't seem any better in interviews. My reluctance to see Jennifer's Body in particular is because it seems a bit too on-the-nose. I mean, the mousy friend is named "Needy", for crying out loud. And the town is called "Devil's Kettle"? Really? I might watch it out of curiosity once it's on cable, but it doesn't interest me enough to pay for it.
I had no idea that Diablo Cody was a woman, or a former stripper. (Good for her.) I just know that I'm not a fan of her previous work. For whatever reason, it just doesn't appeal to me. I did see Juno because a friend had an extra ticket, and it was okay, but nothing about it really grabbed me other than the awesome that is Ellen Page. She's like a young Linda Cardellini. (Side note: I'm so excited for Whip It!)
thanks for this thought-provoking review. i was originally going to watch this movie because i heard that seth cohen's character was influenced by brandon flowers of the killers (who i am borderline insanely obsessed with), but now i'm completely intrigued by all of the self-aware points you raised. to see a horror film in the eyes of a female protagonist…that's reason enough for me.
I completely agree with Rhea Dee, I thought this review was really good and I also enjoyed Megan Fox in the movie but I also thought the movie fell apart.
I just can't get around to understanding how anyone would use Monistat and Vagisil in their daily greetings, that to me is just too silly to ignore.
I thought Sabrina's review was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed the film. I did not see where or how the film "fell apart" at the end, but I don't really have a problem with people thinking that. And I thought the use of the words Monistat and Vagisil in daily greetings was hilarious and awesome, the type of witty dialogue that I enjoy seeing in films, regardless of the fact that I would never think to use them in my daily speech. I could quibble about how that is too silly for you to ignore, but space aliens, vampires, trolls, leprechauns, spirits, magic, etc that in habit a lot of other movies that we here at this site I think tend to enjoy is not, but again, I think that boils down to personal taste, and if that rubbed you the wrong way, that is fine. If you watched into the film giving it a fair shake, and still did not like it, I salute you for having personal preferences.
As for Robin, I guess if you do not find Megan Fox a particularly good actor, that is also fine, and to a large extent, a matter of personal taste. But you admit to having only seen her in the Transformer roles (which was my exposure to her before Jennifer's Body. I just have to wonder, do you think that a summer action blockbuster in with an actor has a supporting role whose main job is to look hot is a fair way to judge a persons acting abilities? I did not think I got enough from Megan Fox to judge her acting abilities in those films, and that was not her fault, or anyone's fault really, it is just what the role called for. I think this film was a better judge of her acting ability. And I thought she did really well. If you still did not like her, that is fine, but I don't think it is fair to say that because of Transformers you do not think she is a good actor.
Well thought out. I wish I'd seen this before I compared some of the different views on whether this film is feminist, semi-feminist, pseudo-feminist, anti-feminist, or whatnot. Good job.
Part 1: Good review! Here's my not-so-intellectual review of this movie. I'd give this movie an all around grade of "C"—as in suCcubus. Megan Foxx gets a "B+" for looking hot and creepy at the same time. The gore chunks coming out of her mouth, along with the guttural sounds she made were top rate! Her acting made her character cool, as well. Good stuff. Plus I actually felt sad, and not my usual happy, when she (this type of character) was brutally butchered! Needy was needin' as a character. What was the function of Skip or Biff or Chip or whatever? He coulda been erased in my opinion. Anyway, Needy's beau gets a generous "D–". Needy gets a "C-", because of Skip. By the way—Needy was HOT too—NOT a nerd. Gimme a break. Both the animals gathering to view the feedings and the emo band portrayal get an "A". Hilarious! The cinematography and makeup get an "A".
Part 2. Now, about Ms. Cody. I thought Juno was a horribly Hollywood cookie-cutter representation of abortion. Hollywood characters DARE NOT GET AN ABORTION—NEVER EVER NEVER! The acting is what made that movie, in my opinion. Also, I thought Juno was, if anything, ANTI-feminist. She had the baby and all was well—should have had Steve Martin appear just so's he could shed a single tear down his heavily puttied pasty face. I've not read anything—interviews or otherwise—that have proven Cody a staunch feminist. I hear she's gonna write the screenplay for Hugh Hefner's biography movie. GAG! As a horror movie—not an epic "F"ail—but still a "F"ail. Was I sorry that I went out of my way to see this movie? No. Am I a bit of a cinematic masochist that is amused by bad movies? Yes.
I agree about the Juno/anti-abortion comment, though I don't think the film was meant to be about abortion or the choice of the matter; I don't think it was the focus, but any time a woman has a baby that she may or may not want, it's difficult to keep the big "A" word from becoming the central focus; I thought Juno was clever, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Additionally, I think it depends on your definition of "feminist" to decide whether Cody is one; she refers to herself as such, but of course, there are a myriad of definitions floating around about that term, or whether to use it all. Megan Fox hasn't acted in enough for me to comment on her acting ability; however, I will say that I think she has more talent than the likes of Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Alba. I also think Jennifer's body is not without it's faults; however, I don't think those faults outweigh the fact that we never never never see a "horror" (and I use that term loosely here) film written by, about, produced by and directed by a woman. that in itself is feminist enough for me.