Movie Reviews: 'Bodies Bodies Bodies,' And 'Thirteen Lives'

This weekend, horror-comedy fans are in for a treat, as the slasher movie "Bodies Bodies Bodies" lights up the big screen with an intriguing murder mystery game. The film stars Pete Davidson, Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennott, Lee Pace, Chase Sui Wonders and Myha’la Herrold as a group of friends suddenly propelled into a lurid and dangerous web of betrayals and mistrusts.

Remember the heartbreaking plight of 12 young boys and their soccer coach, who were trapped deep inside Thailand's Tham Luang caves in 2018? Ron Howard's "Thirteen Lives" is a depiction of the real-life, death-defying rescue mission that took place, starring Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, Tom Bateman and Joel Edgerton as a group of veteran cave divers.

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Here's what to see and skip this weekend:

“Bodies Bodies Bodies” — Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova; directed by Halina Reijn

Lies and rivalries abound in Dutch director Halina Reijn’s English-language debut, a slasher social satire with a murder whodunnit twist.

At the center of the film is a group of privileged friends who decide to gather for a house party in the wake of a menacing storm. And why not indeed? These rich kids can have all the fun in a remote family mansion, replete with dancing, singing and foods infused with cannabinoids.

Moments later, Sophie (Amandla Stenberg) and her new girlfriend Bee (Maria Bakalova) arrive at the lavish mansion, where they meet the rest of the gang. Sophie’s best friend David (Pete Davidson) and his longtime girlfriend Emma (Chase Sui Wonders) seem excited to see her. Then, Jordan (Myha’la Herrold), Alice (Rachel Sennott) and her odd 40ish boyfriend Greg (Lee Pace) enter the picture.

As the violent storm begins to rage, so do the uncontrollable excessive indulgences, setting in motion a murder mystery game that turns into a lurid and dangerous web of deception, mistrusts and betrayals when a body suddenly turns up dead.

Now, the whodunit question is for real.

See it.

Reijn’s film satirizes with a razor-sharp spin on the horror and dark comedy genre with an insanely entertaining murder mystery to behold.

Watch the trailer.

“Thirteen Lives” (Also available on Prime Video) — Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton; directed by Ron Howard

Ron Howard's latest directorial outing is the filmmaker’s interpretation of the events surrounding the real-life rescue mission that took place four years ago when 12 young boys and their soccer coach were suddenly trapped deep inside Thailand’s Tham Luang caves. For 18 harrowing days, the whole world stood still in anticipation as an international team of diving experts race against time to save the entire soccer team.

“Thirteen Lives” opens with the Wild Boars junior soccer team as they ride their bicycles for an impromptu exploration of the Tham Luang caves in the summer of 2018. The monsoon season is still weeks away, so naturally, they need not fear. But minutes later, in the blink of an eye, torrential rains unexpectedly come pounding down, leaving the caves' pathways flooded. As the parents start looking for their children, it becomes apparent that their kids are trapped deep inside the caves.

Soon, the plight of the soccer team becomes a global media sensation. With the help of an international group of diving experts (Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, Tom Bateman and Joel Edgarton), a death-defying rescue mission is launched to save all "thirteen lives."

But it is not going to be easy, given the complexity of the flooded labyrinthine passageways.

Can they all make it out alive?

See it.

Howard’s genius is front and center as he navigates the complex rescue mission with unrivaled dexterity and a keen eye for detail, further elevated by the combined star power and sheer gravitas of Mortensen, Farrell and Edgerton.

Watch the trailer.