The feminist horror flick Jennifer’s Body has recently been re-added to Netflix, and we are so excited to see how it’s received! Although it failed to cause a stir upon its initial release because it was mismarketed for the male gaze, the film’s exploration of bisexuality helped it earn its status as a contemporary cult classic. Can we expect a bisexual reawakening among a new generation of viewers?
In 2009, we were not culturally ready for this film, but the reality is that Jennifer's Body was always for the girls and the gays.
The film was written by Diablo Cody, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Juno, and directed by Karyn Kusama, who frequently explores feminist themes and flawed female protagonists within her work.
Megan Fox was the perfect casting for the titular role of Jennifer because her success in the Transformers series had just cemented her position as “the first bona fide sex symbol of the 21st century.”
Her character, a teenage girl turned soul-sucking succubus who attacks men who sexualise her, gets to use her sexuality as the source of her power.
Jennifer’s transformation can therefore be considered a depiction of her own bisexual awakening.
Although Fox admittedly plays into the male gaze and this is largely what caused the film to be mismarketed initially, it’s notable that Jennifer’s Body was her first film release after being fired from the Transformers series for complaining about the impact of its gruelling filming schedule on her body.
To transition from such a mainstream male-centred franchise to a female-led horror film speaks volumes about Fox’s desire to also be seen through the female gaze in her work.
The film revolves around Jennifer’s relationship with Needy, played by Amanda Seyfried, and is a triumphant exploration of female friendships and the previously taboo nature of same sex relationships.
As they both secure their first boyfriends and navigate high school, it becomes clear that even though “sandbox love never dies,” it’s no longer appropriate for them to play boyfriend/girlfriend as they once did in kindergarten.
From Kyle Gallner’s excessive use of eyeliner to the clear sexual tension between Needy and Jennifer as she plays with her hair and tells her to “wear something cute, ” all the way up to the overtly sexual final battle, Jennifer’s Body disrupts societal expectations by putting bisexuality and the emotional turmoil that can come with it openly on display.
It is undeniably responsible for spawning a new generation of feminist horror films, and if you haven’t already seen it, you should head over to Netflix now!
Written by Leah Marie Cox
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