Maria Bakalova, The Star Of ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ Talks Gore, Internet Culture And More

This movie takes backstabbing to a whole new level.

A24’s latest slasher-slash-whodunnit film Bodies Bodies Bodies is set to hit theatres this month, and it looks like it'll have a huge box office rollout.

bodies bodies bodies is a masterpiece; I was agog, aghast, and ABUZZ truly ...!

— KB. (@kaiser__bread) August 27, 2022

The film follows a group of rich 20-somethings at a ‘hurricane party’, but after a ‘murder in the dark’-style game goes terribly wrong, the night descends into chaos.

We caught up with Maria Balakova, star of the film about her experience making it.

Halina Reijn directed the film in her English-language debut, and Maria said it really sets itself apart from other slasher movies.

“Bodies Bodies Bodies is a very contemporary look at the world we’re living in and the people that are around us. It’s made in a way that is not too sophisticated or pretentious to not be relatable to people, it’s very much for the people.”

She went on to say the film offers viewers an insight into who they are.

“We’re all these evil people, and good people, and childish people and grown-ups, locked in a body feeling all of these different emotions and doing all of these crazy things.”

She said the film also has value because it melds together different themes and styles.

“It’s all layered, it’s not just a slasher movie, it’s not just a comedy, it’s not just a thriller – it’s all of these things together, because that’s how the world works, that’s how we as humans work.”

Bodies Bodies Bodies also features the iconic Pete Davidson, as well as co-stars Amandla Stenberg (The Hunger Games, The Hate U Give) and Rachel Senott (Shiva Baby).

Maria said the ensemble cast was able to easily build a relationship, which gave them the ability to act cruelly to each other on camera.

“We all became friends, which let us be mean to each other on set – because we know that it’s not real.”

Maria plays Bee, an outsider who comes into the world of rich 20-somethings, and she says she could relate to Bee, as all of us can.

“It’s a universal feeling. We all desire to belong somewhere and to be loved, and to be appreciated. That’s something we’ve all felt. And at the same time, we all felt that we’re lost in a different scenario.”

She said Bee’s isolation in the film explains the way she and the audience can relate to the character.

“We’ve all been around people that think they’re much better than us, and they will never like us. So we try to be something different, and that brings us down, because that’s not authentic.”

bodies bodies bodies had slayyyter and alice longyu gao AND charli xcx. slay/10

— 🧋 mik⁷ (@sleepymik) September 4, 2022

Following the story of a group of Gen Zs, the film has a lot to say about youth and internet culture, and manages to do it in a funny and fresh way.

Despite being beset by a hurricane and murders, the characters are sidelined by social squabbles and petty social media fights, which Maria said is a reflection of real-life attitudes.

“In this generation, we are all so glued to our phones and social media and all the images that we look at,” she said.

“That makes us more self-conscious and creates a barrier between communication and makes us a little bit more fake. We’re able to call someone our friend just because they’re on our friendship list on Facebook, but we don’t even know who they are.”

Bodies Bodies Bodies hits Australian theatres on September 15, and if you’re keen to win tickets, head here to enter our comp!