Why So Blu?

Bodies Bodies Bodies (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

A24 is our current dominant cult studio for movies that are actually attempting to stand out, try new things, let creatives be free and put it out to a wider, mainstream audience. They’ve crafted a lot of the popular social media horror films in the last many years. Their latest is a Gen Z slasher called Bodies Bodies Bodies that didn’t really hit their usual nice ding at the box office and under performed compared to their normal output. Nonetheless, its probably destined to become a cult hit of the “Even though I didn’t myself, why didn’t anybody see this in theaters” Twitter classic variety when it goes a bit with digital, streaming and maybe its 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release. Which, that release is a Best Buy exclusive, arriving October 18th. Also that day it will be available on standard Blu-ray and DVD from all retailers.

Film

When a group of 20-somethings get stuck at a remote family mansion during a hurricane, a party game ends with a dead body on the ground and fingers pointed everywhere. As they try to find the killer among them, fake friends and real enemies have to learn who to trust — and how to survive — in this fresh and funny Gen-Z meltdown starring Pete Davidson, Amandla Stenberg, and Maria Bakalova.

The Gen Z soaked slasher film Bodies Bodies Bodies does its best to infuse the formulaic stylings of the fabled horror subgenres blueprint with characters desperately seeking to look, sound and play like our modern teen/20 somethings. Though our writers here are not of that generation, I’m sure they’ve done their homework and research. And if anything, its the jumping off point that really helps to develop these characters throughout.

What is pretty special and unique to the film for its genre is that I think the characters themselves probably dictated where this story would go somewhere in the writing process. All the actions, from the start of the movie all the way until the resolution, really feel incredibly natural and fitting for the people we’d spent the previous 90 minutes with. While there are many slasher trappings to this film, the script always chooses the actions and motivations of the characters/generation over the genre at every single turn.

Bodies Bodies Bodies greatest attribute is its cinematography. The film is a pretty colorful, but a lot of it takes place in the dark. Either be it by playing game with the same title as the movie or the power being out, the movie is low lit. The way Jasper Wolf captures it and lights it is quite innovative and interesting. You can always see what’s going on or have the perfect perspective of what a character can see. There’s fun with phones, glows, red lighting and more. The camera moves in traditional ways, modern ways and even some ways effective in found footage. Its probably the film’s greatest asset.

Whiles its not perfect, there were plenty of stretches of the film where I was “bored in the house and I’m in the house bored” with some in-between character conversations, Bodies Bodies Bodies is pretty commendable in trying to do something interesting in the slasher genre. A LOT of goodwill for this movie comes with actually getting through the whole thing. Its not like its a chore to get through, but the pay off is so grand that it makes you a lot more fond of the preceding 88 minutes. The film is certainly better than you’re expecting and one worthy of scratching that curiosity itch.

Video

Disclaimer: Screen captures used in the review from the standard Blu-ray, not the 4K UHD Blu-ray disc.

Encoding: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: 4K (2160p)

Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Layers: BD-100

Clarity/Detail: Bodies Bodies Bodies arrives on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray a native 4K title and beautifully displays the films wonderful cinematography. Its eye candy for you to feast on with wonderfully harnessed lovely vivid colors and impressively saturated blacks. Its a very sharp and crisp image with loads of details that have it carrying that “looking through a window” appearance in terms of its clarity and cleanliness.

Depth: Depth of field is quite strong, with really good pushback and three dimensional appeal to the image. Its very spacious and shows off some good scale for the big outdoor pool area as well as a large home. Movements of characters and camera are both confident and smooth with no issues coming from motion distortions like jitter or blurring.

Black Levels: A big reason for picking this 4K edition of the film is the handling of the black levels and showcasing them naturally, considering a LOT of this movie is in the dark. Loads of details, patterns and textures are still visible in some of the darkest corners of the frame and it really helps to get the more radiant colors to burst. No crushing witnessed.

Color Reproduction: This film features some really beautiful colors in it that look natural and bold with just the right amount of a vivid touch. Its in the dark where things can meat some stronger contrast where they all pop though and do some extra with the HDR. One of the easiest places to see that is in the glow stick necklace and bracelets worn as well as the cell phone lights and displays.

Flesh Tones: Skin tones are natural and consistent from start to finish of the film. There’s a tremendous about of facial texture and detail visible from any given distance in the frame and no matter the lighting. Everything from stubble to dried blood, face paint, sweat, dirt, makeup and more are clear as day.

Noise/Artifacts: Clean.

Audio

Audio Format(s): English Dolby Atmos, English Descriptive Audio

Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish

Dynamics: Bodies Bodies Bodies comes with a pretty nicely equipped Atmos track that is just as impressive in its quieter moments as it is the louder ones. Its a well balanced effort through the music, vocals and effects that feels natural with its layering and depth.

Height: From above you get a rather accurate contribution and less zany. There’s also an extra bump for the music in the film from above as well.

Low Frequency Extension: The subwoofer definitely lends a good vibration and rumble with the bumping soundtrack that has a load of a bass in it. Other effects like gunshots, glass shattering, thunder, punching and crashing all have some nice punch to them as well.

Surround Sound Presentation: The room is well captured and mapped out, easily charting things offscreen with accuracy and rolling the traveling action through the room with good, natural force. Rear and side channels provide some nice ambiance and unique contributions as well as helping out with the score and songs featuring in it.

Dialogue Reproduction:  Vocals are crisp and clean.

Extras

Bodies Bodies Bodies comes with the standard Blu-ray edition and a redeemable digital code. This 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray edition is a Best Buy exclusive release.

Audio Commentary

• with Director Halina Reijn

Who Wants To Play?: Making Bodies Bodies Bodies (HD, 13:55) – A nice little making of piece with interviews from cast and crew, which is definitely one expecting you to see the movie first before watching. So its not “selling” you the film, its reflecting on it. Lots of hot key terms thrown out by everyone during it too.

Deleted Scenes (HD, 2:39)

Summary

Bodies Bodies Bodies is well shot little horror/comedy/teen flick that has a pay off that makes the entire time you spent watching worth it overall.  The Best Buy exclusive 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray edition looks and sounds very lovely for a great presentation, especially important because much of this movie is so dark and the format can handle it with ease. Some decent extras here make for a rather solid package for a new film that didn’t hit big at the box office last summer.

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