Body

Body is an intense thriller film directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, and released in 2015. The movie stars an ensemble female cast that consists of Helen Rogers, Alexandra Turshen, and Lauren Molina, each delivering compelling performances that tie the viewers to the edge of their seats. Aptly titled, the movie weaves a suspenseful narrative around themes of friendship, decision-making, morality, and the terrifying consequences of bad choices.

The movie unfolds on a Christmas Eve where three girlfriends and college students, Holly (Helen Rogers), Cali (Alexandra Turshen), and Mel (Lauren Molina) are spending their holiday break together. With their families away and the celebratory spirits running high, they decide to break away from their boredom and do something adventurous. It isn’t the typical Christmas story, but rather a chilling blend of drama, suspense, and dark humor.

Cali, the most adventurously reckless of the friends, persuades the other two to join her in a spontaneous adventure at her uncle's luxurious mansion, promising them an unforgettable night. The girls agree and head over, indulging in the extravagance the house offers. They explore every corner, enjoy the expensive liquors, and have a merry time dancing around the huge Christmas tree. Confident that the mansion is theirs for the evening, the girls let their guards down and enjoy the thrill of their forbidden activity.

However, as the night progresses, things unravel and the plot takes a dark, unexpected turn. The thrill of illicit trespassing quickly turns into an absolute nightmare when Holly and Mel discover that Cali’s uncle does not own the house. Before the girls can grasp the full magnitude of this revelation and evaluate their next steps, they face an unexpected intruder in the house. The string of events that follows, force the trio into a tricky situation where they have to make life-altering decisions. Their friendship is severely tested, as they grapple with the complexities of their actions and the fear of potential repercussions.

In Body, Helen Rogers, Alexandra Turshen, and Lauren Molina breathe life into their characters, conveying the essence of the drama with gut-wrenching honesty. Each character is distinct, multifaceted, and thoroughly real, bringing out the stark differences in the personalities of the three friends. Cali is bold and dominant, Mel is the mediator and the voice of reason, and Holly is the cautious one who struggles with the escalating situation.

The narrative ingeniously places the characters in a situation where they have to make increasingly morally ambiguous choices. To amplify the tension, the film's setting in the remote and vast mansion creates an atmosphere of fear and claustrophobia, despite the grandeur and space. The camera work and intricate cinematography make excellent use of this space, emphasizing the isolation and desperation of the group.

The directors, Berk, and Olsen, masterfully make use of suspense to keep the viewers on their toes. With a lean runtime, the film offers a tightly-knit narrative without any unnecessary filler sequences, giving an intense pacing that matches the narrative's rapidly escalating tension.

The film’s climax is particularly well-executed, tying up the loose ends and leaving the viewers feeling satisfied yet contemplative. The repercussions of the girls' decisions are eventually revealed, but not in a way that viewers could easily predict. The movie explores the broader themes of decision-making, impulse, and ethics in a fresh and impactful way.

All in all, Body is a thrilling depiction of a single night that takes an unexpected turn for a group of friends. Despite utilizing the common narrative trope of a house invasion, the film presents it with a unique and fresh twist, mainly guided by the decisions of its protagonists rather than the acts of the antagonist. It's a movie that will have its audience question the morality of the characters while reeling from the consequences of their choices. Body is an underrated gem within the thriller genre that's sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.