Jennifer’s Body is a 2009 horror-comedy movie directed by Karyn Kusama and written by Diablo Cody. The film follows the story of Jennifer, a popular high school girl, who is possessed by a demon after a ritual sacrifice goes wrong. The demon feeds on the flesh of teenage boys, leaving Jennifer to become a dangerous monster.
The movie’s primary themes revolve around female empowerment and sexuality, with the narrative portraying Jennifer’s transformation as a metaphor for puberty and the struggles of coming of age. It also explores the toxic nature of female friendship, with Jennifer’s best friend, Needy, struggling to come to terms with her friend’s new nature and her own desires.
One of the reasons people love Jennifer’s Body is its subversion of the typical horror movie tropes. It takes the classic “monster movie” archetype and flips it on its head, with the monster being a teenage girl instead of a malevolent force preying on young women. The film’s witty dialogue and self-aware humor also make it stand out from other horror movies.
Despite receiving mixed reviews upon release, Jennifer’s Body has since gained a cult following, with many fans praising its feminist message and unique take on the horror genre. It has also been credited with being ahead of its time, with its themes of female empowerment and sexuality becoming more prevalent in popular culture in recent years.
Some other interesting facts about the movie include the fact that it was filmed in Canada and features a soundtrack curated by indie rock musician, Adam Brody. It also features an early performance by Chris Pratt before he became a household name.
If you enjoyed Jennifer’s Body, here are nine other movies that you may also enjoy:
- Ginger Snaps (2000): This Canadian horror-comedy also deals with the themes of puberty and female empowerment, as two teenage sisters navigate high school while dealing with a werewolf curse.
- The Craft (1996): This movie also focuses on a group of high school girls who use their supernatural powers to gain power and control, but soon realize that their actions have consequences.
- Teeth (2007): This movie tells the story of a teenage girl with a rare medical condition that causes teeth to grow in her va*i*a, and how she uses her unique ability to fight against sexual assault.
- Jennifer’s Shadow (2004): This movie follows a group of high school friends who must band together to stop a demon-possessed Jennifer from destroying their town.
- The Babysitter (2017): This horror-comedy follows a young boy who discovers that his babysitter is part of a satanic cult, and must fight for survival when things take a deadly turn.
- Scream (1996): This classic horror movie is known for its self-aware humor and subversion of genre tropes, as a masked killer terrorizes a group of high school students.
- Raw (2016): This French-Belgian horror movie follows a vegetarian veterinary student who develops a taste for human flesh after a hazing ritual gone wrong.
- The Descent (2005): This British horror movie follows a group of female spelunkers who become trapped in an uncharted cave system and must fight for survival against underground monsters.
- Promising Young Woman (2020): This thriller stars Carey Mulligan as a woman seeking revenge against men who have taken advantage of women, and features a strong feminist message similar to Jennifer’s Body.
1. Ginger Snaps (2000)
Ginger Snaps is a Canadian horror-comedy movie directed by John Fawcett. The movie follows the story of two teenage sisters, Ginger and Brigitte, who are obsessed with death and morbidity. After Ginger is bitten by a werewolf, the sisters must deal with the physical and emotional changes that come with her transformation.
Like Jennifer’s Body, Ginger Snaps explores the theme of female empowerment and coming of age. The film uses the werewolf curse as a metaphor for puberty, with Ginger’s transformation representing the changes that girls go through during adolescence. The movie also delves into the complicated dynamics of sisterhood, as Brigitte struggles to accept her sister’s new nature and protect her from the dangers of the outside world.
The film’s dark humor and witty dialogue make it a standout among horror movies, and the performances of the two leads, Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle, are outstanding. Ginger Snaps has since gained a cult following, with many fans praising its unique take on the werewolf genre and its feminist message.
2. The Craft (1996)
The Craft is a supernatural horror movie directed by Andrew Fleming. The movie follows a group of high school girls who form a coven and use their powers to get revenge on those who have wronged them. However, their actions soon have deadly consequences.
Like Jennifer’s Body, The Craft deals with the themes of female empowerment and the dangers of using power for personal gain. The movie portrays the girls’ magic as a metaphor for the struggles of adolescence, with the characters using their powers to assert themselves in a world that often dismisses and diminishes them.
The film’s standout performances, especially by Robin Tunney and Fairuza Balk, as well as its memorable soundtrack, make it a classic of the genre. The Craft has since become a cult favorite among horror fans, and its themes of empowerment and rebellion continue to resonate with audiences today.
3. Teeth (2007)
Teeth is a horror-comedy movie directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein. The movie follows the story of a teenage girl named Dawn, who discovers that she has teeth in her va*i*a after a sexual assault. She then uses her unique ability to fight against sexual assault and predatory men.
Like Jennifer’s Body, Teeth deals with the theme of female empowerment and the dangers of objectification and sexual violence. The movie portrays Dawn’s unique ability as a weapon against the patriarchal society that seeks to control and harm her.
The film’s dark humor and biting satire make it a standout among horror-comedies, and Jess Weixler’s performance as Dawn is both captivating and unsettling. Teeth has since gained a cult following, with many fans praising its feminist message and unique take on the horror genre.
4. Jennifer’s Shadow (2004)
Jennifer’s Shadow is a horror movie directed by Daniel de la Vega. The movie follows a group of high school friends who must band together to stop a demon-possessed Jennifer from destroying their town. Similar to Jennifer’s Body, the movie explores the theme of female possession and the dangers of unchecked power.
The film’s tense atmosphere and haunting visuals make it a standout among horror movies, and the performances of the young cast, especially by Fátima Flórez as the possessed Jennifer, are impressive. While the movie may not have gained as much popularity as Jennifer’s Body, it is a must-watch for fans of possession movies and supernatural horror.
5. The Babysitter (2017)
The Babysitter is a horror-comedy movie directed by McG. The movie follows a young boy named Cole, who discovers that his babysitter is part of a satanic cult and must fight for survival when things take a deadly turn. Similar to Jennifer’s Body, the movie explores the theme of youthful innocence corrupted by evil forces.
The film’s stylish direction, witty dialogue, and over-the-top violence make it a standout among horror-comedies, and the performances of the cast, especially by Samara Weaving as the babysitter, are stellar. The Babysitter has since gained a cult following, with many fans praising its unique blend of humor and horror and its commentary on the dangers of blindly following popular culture.
6. Scream (1996)
Scream is a horror movie directed by Wes Craven. The movie follows a masked killer terrorizing a group of high school students in a small town, with the film’s self-aware humor and subversion of genre tropes making it a standout among horror movies. Similar to Jennifer’s Body, the movie explores the theme of youthful innocence corrupted by violence and the dangers of stereotyping.
The film’s iconic opening sequence, memorable characters, and meta-commentary on the horror genre make it a classic of the genre, and the performances of the cast, especially by Neve Campbell as the final girl, are outstanding. Scream has since become a cultural touchstone, with many fans praising its innovative approach to horror and its commentary on the state of the genre in the 90s.
7. Raw (2016)
Raw is a horror movie directed by Julia Ducournau. The movie follows a young vegetarian student named Justine, who develops a taste for human flesh after undergoing a hazing ritual at a veterinary school. Similar to Jennifer’s Body, the movie explores the theme of female sexuality and the dangers of repressed desire.
The film’s haunting visuals and visceral gore make it a standout among horror movies, and the performances of the cast, especially by Garance Marillier as Justine, are exceptional. Raw has since gained critical acclaim and a cult following, with many fans praising its unique take on the coming-of-age and cannibalism subgenres.
8. The Descent (2005)
The Descent is a horror movie directed by Neil Marshall. The movie follows a group of women on a caving expedition who must fight for survival when they encounter a race of underground humanoid creatures. Similar to Jennifer’s Body, the movie explores the theme of female empowerment and the dangers of the male gaze.
The film’s claustrophobic atmosphere and intense action sequences make it a standout among horror movies, and the performances of the cast, especially by Shauna Macdonald as the lead character Sarah, are outstanding. The Descent has since gained a reputation as one of the best horror movies of the 2000s, with many fans praising its strong female characters and expertly crafted scares.
9. Promising Young Woman (2020)
Promising Young Woman is a thriller movie directed by Emerald Fennell. The movie follows a young woman named Cassie, who seeks revenge against the men who contributed to her best friend’s sexual assault. Similar to Jennifer’s Body, the movie explores the theme of female rage and the societal pressures placed on women.
The film’s bold direction, stunning cinematography, and powerful performances, especially by Carey Mulligan as Cassie, make it a standout among recent thrillers. Promising Young Woman has since gained critical acclaim and multiple award nominations, with many fans praising its commentary on rape culture and toxic masculinity.
Overall, these movies share common themes of female empowerment, repressed desires, and societal pressures placed on women. They also showcase strong performances by female actors and innovative direction in the horror and thriller genres. Fans of Jennifer’s Body will likely enjoy these movies for their similar explorations of female power and rage.
Here’s a table with the IMDb ratings and Rotten Tomatoes scores for the movies you requested:
Movie Title | IMDb Rating | Rotten Tomatoes Score |
Ginger Snaps (2000) | 6.8 | 89% (Audience Score: 75%) |
The Craft (1996) | 6.3 | 56% (Audience Score: 65%) |
Teeth (2007) | 5.4 | 74% (Audience Score: 41%) |
Jennifer’s Body (2009) | 5.2 | 45% (Audience Score: 34%) |
Jennifer’s Shadow (2004) | 4.4 | N/A |
The Babysitter (2017) | 6.3 | 73% (Audience Score: 59%) |
Scream (1996) | 7.2 | 79% (Audience Score: 79%) |
Raw (2016) | 7.0 | 91% (Audience Score: 77%) |
The Descent (2005) | 7.2 | 85% (Audience Score: 76%) |
Promising Young Woman (2020) | 7.4 | 90% (Audience Score: 87%) |
Note that for Jennifer’s Shadow, Rotten Tomatoes did not provide a score.