Bodies Bodies Bodies
When a group of rich 20-somethings plan a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, a party game turns deadly.
Despite its modest budget of $3.0M, Bodies Bodies Bodies became a solid performer, earning $13.9M worldwide—a 363% return. The film's unique voice resonated with audiences, showing that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
2 wins & 16 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) exemplifies meticulously timed plot construction, characteristic of Halina Reijn's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Sophie
Bee
David
Alice
Jordan
Emma
Greg
Main Cast & Characters
Sophie
Played by Amandla Stenberg
Insecure girlfriend trying to reconnect with her wealthy friend group during a hurricane party.
Bee
Played by Maria Bakalova
Sophie's new working-class girlfriend, an outsider to the wealthy friend group.
David
Played by Pete Davidson
Insecure, aggressive host of the party and heir to the mansion, dating Emma.
Alice
Played by Rachel Sennott
An influencer-podcaster struggling with authenticity, brings older boyfriend Greg.
Jordan
Played by Myha'la Herrold
Cynical, sharp-tongued friend who dated Sophie before Bee arrived.
Emma
Played by Chase Sui Wonders
An actress and David's girlfriend, conflicted between loyalty and self-interest.
Greg
Played by Lee Pace
Alice's much older boyfriend, a military veteran who is an outsider to the group.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Sophie and Bee drive to the mansion, kissing and doing drugs. Establishes their passionate but ungrounded relationship and Sophie's privilege - she's returning to her rich friend group after rehab, bringing her new working-class girlfriend.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when The group decides to play "Bodies Bodies Bodies" - a murder-in-the-dark party game where one player is secretly the killer. The game that should be fun entertainment becomes the catalyst for exposing their toxic dynamics and paranoia.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 21 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 23% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to They discover David's body outside with his throat slashed. The game has become real - someone has actually killed. The group collectively chooses to investigate themselves rather than call police, crossing into a night of paranoid accusation and actual violence., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Greg is found dead at the bottom of the stairs with a bloody kettlebell - apparently murdered by the group in their paranoid frenzy. False defeat: they realize they may have killed an innocent man, and the real killer is still among them. Stakes escalate drastically. Trust is shattered completely., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 65 minutes (70% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Alice is found dead, her throat slashed like David. Sophie and Bee are now alone together, covered in blood, traumatized. Multiple friends are dead. The whiff of death: the innocent friendship and connection they once had is completely destroyed. Sophie must face that her toxic friend group has consumed itself., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 76% of the runtime. Sophie finds David's phone showing a video he recorded. The revelation: David accidentally killed himself making a TikTok video with the sword - a self-inflicted wound while performing for social media. There was never a killer. Every death after was caused by their paranoid violence against each other. The truth cuts through all their delusions., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Bodies Bodies Bodies's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Bodies Bodies Bodies against these established plot points, we can identify how Halina Reijn utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Bodies Bodies Bodies within the comedy genre.
Halina Reijn's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Halina Reijn films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Bodies Bodies Bodies takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Halina Reijn filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Halina Reijn analyses, see Babygirl.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Sophie and Bee drive to the mansion, kissing and doing drugs. Establishes their passionate but ungrounded relationship and Sophie's privilege - she's returning to her rich friend group after rehab, bringing her new working-class girlfriend.
Theme
Alice mentions "protecting your energy" and Emma discusses "toxic people" during the initial arrival. The group's performative therapy-speak and virtue signaling sets up the theme: their generation uses emotional intelligence language as a weapon rather than actual empathy.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the friend group at David's family mansion during a hurricane party: Jordan (hostile), Alice (performative), Emma (podcaster/host), and David (insecure man-child). Tensions simmer around Sophie's absence during rehab and Bee being an unknown outsider. They drink, do drugs, and establish their wealthy, insulated world.
Disruption
The group decides to play "Bodies Bodies Bodies" - a murder-in-the-dark party game where one player is secretly the killer. The game that should be fun entertainment becomes the catalyst for exposing their toxic dynamics and paranoia.
Resistance
The game begins playfully. Greg (Alice's older boyfriend) arrives and creates tension - he's an outsider who sees through their pretensions. The group debates including him, revealing their exclusionary nature. Lights go out due to the storm. The house becomes dark and ominous. The "fun" game becomes increasingly mean-spirited.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
They discover David's body outside with his throat slashed. The game has become real - someone has actually killed. The group collectively chooses to investigate themselves rather than call police, crossing into a night of paranoid accusation and actual violence.
Mirror World
Bee attempts to be the voice of reason, suggesting they secure the house and stay calm. As the outsider with working-class practicality, she represents authentic emotional response versus their performative reactions. Her relationship with Sophie carries the thematic question: can real connection survive in this toxic environment?
Premise
The "fun and games" of paranoid accusation. Each person becomes a suspect. Old resentments surface: Sophie's betrayals during active addiction, Jordan's jealousy, Alice's insecurity, Emma's manipulation. They use therapy language to attack each other ("gaslighting," "triggering," "narcissist"). Greg is accused and attacked. The hurricane rages outside, trapping them.
Midpoint
Greg is found dead at the bottom of the stairs with a bloody kettlebell - apparently murdered by the group in their paranoid frenzy. False defeat: they realize they may have killed an innocent man, and the real killer is still among them. Stakes escalate drastically. Trust is shattered completely.
Opposition
Total breakdown of the group. They splinter and turn on each other with increasing violence. Alice attacks Bee with a kettlebell. Jordan and Sophie's lifelong friendship explodes over past betrayals. Emma's manipulations are exposed. Each person's worst qualities emerge as they weaponize personal secrets and mental health struggles against each other.
Collapse
Alice is found dead, her throat slashed like David. Sophie and Bee are now alone together, covered in blood, traumatized. Multiple friends are dead. The whiff of death: the innocent friendship and connection they once had is completely destroyed. Sophie must face that her toxic friend group has consumed itself.
Crisis
Sophie and Bee, the last survivors, spiral into mutual suspicion. Sophie begins to doubt even Bee. The dark night of examining everything: Sophie confronts how her privileged, performative world has led to this carnage. They search the house desperately for answers, finding Jordan wounded but alive.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Sophie finds David's phone showing a video he recorded. The revelation: David accidentally killed himself making a TikTok video with the sword - a self-inflicted wound while performing for social media. There was never a killer. Every death after was caused by their paranoid violence against each other. The truth cuts through all their delusions.
Synthesis
The finale: Sophie, Bee, and Jordan must process the absurd, tragic truth. All their therapy-speak, their performed emotional intelligence, their privilege - it meant nothing. They destroyed themselves over nothing. Emergency services arrive as dawn breaks. They sit in the wreckage of their delusions, facing consequences.
Transformation
The survivors sit in shocked silence as sunlight breaks through. Unlike the opening's drug-fueled intimacy in the car, Sophie and Bee now sit apart, hollowed out. The transformation is tragic: the performative world of privilege and social media has been exposed as lethal, but the cost was everything. No catharsis, only devastation.