Directors Series: Karyn Kusama

The goal for the Directors Series will be to take a deep dive into the entire filmography of either an up and coming director whose name should be on the tip of everyone's tongue or a potentially well known director with a diverse filmography. Some of the names on this list will surprise you, as they have been working as a director in Hollywood for a while and just gotten their big break, or have had a long time between projects.

THIS MONTH'S DIRECTOR: Karyn Kusama

Much like with Æon Flux, it took about 4 years for Kusama to make another feature, only directing one episode of The L Word in the meantime. She signed on due to the script, saying "It was just so original, so imaginative"

MOVIE: Jennifer's Body (2009)

Starring:

Amanda Seyfried as Needy

Megan Fox as Jennifer

Johnny Simmons as Chip Dove

Adam Brody as Nikolai

Chris Pratt as Officer Roman Duda

Kyle Gallner as Colin Gray

J.K. Simmons as Mr. Wroblewski

Budget: $16 Million

Box Office:

Opened: $6.8M

Final: $16.2M

Plot:

High School BFF's Needy and Jennifer go to see an up and coming indie rock band called Low Shoulder at a local dive bar. After a mysterious fire breaks loose that claims the lives of some of their classmates, an infatuated Jennifer leaves with the lead singer, despite needy's protests that something is off about them. Jennifer should have listened, as she returns from that night with a terrifying blood lust. As classmates begin to disappear, Needy searches for the the truth of what happened to Jennifer and in trying to save her, realizes those she loves are in danger as well.

My Review:

This movie is much better than its reputation. Featuring a script by Diablo Cody, who wrote Juno, the film is equal parts funny and terrifying. Having written this film around the time she wrote Juno, it is filled with the same hip, teen lingo and that is definitely an aspect that doesn't hold up. Despite this, she and Kusama work well together, playing with genre conventions and expectations while putting together a fun movie. Even with a sinister final 20 minutes, this movie is a lot of fun. I have a bad feeling that it was the way the movie ended, as well as bad marketing, that hurt this movie in theaters.

It looks like Kusama got to make a movie closer to her vision. Unlike Æon Flux, the narrative makes sense and isn't filled with the chaotic editing that plagued that film. The budget of the film is much smaller and Kusama appears to be much more comfortable and controlled. Sixteen million dollars is nothing to scoff at budget wise, but it forces filmmakers to get more creative in how to tell the story. Outside of some CGI whenever Jennifer transforms into the succubus, everything looks practical.The cinematography is gorgeous, especially in a shot of Jennifer swimming in the lake after one of her kills and the dive bar on fire standing out the most. I also appreciate a movie that is very unabashedly R, complete with some salty language and some bloody shenanigans.

Kusama is aided by a pair of appealing lead performances. Megan Fox is quite good in the film, giving Jennifer a sadness that comes out as the film progresses. Her relationship with Amanda Seyfried is fun, confusing, and like many characters point out, doesn't make much sense. Their relationship is the driving force and helps the ending hit harder than expected.

I wanted to note that I watched both the theatrical version and the extended versions and not much seems to have been changed except for an extended and reedited opening. I'm not sure which opening I liked better but interestingly, they both work.

I encourage more people to check this out and I hope I haven't over sold it. It's nowhere near perfect and there are some aspects that haven't aged well. But it's a much more compelling and deeper story than some might give it credit for.

Critical reception:

44% on Rotten Tomatoes

Up Next: The Invitation (2015)