Jennifer's Body

Stars: Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, Adam Brody, J K Simmons, Cynthia Stevenson

Director: Karyn Kusama

This fang-in-cheek horror, written by Juno's Diablo Cody, tries to be funny with it, but the gore content is so graphic and the script so tentative that you find yourself thinking: 'Hang on, am I supposed to laugh here?'

Jen's bod, belonging to current No 1 Hollywood hottie Fox, has been possessed by a demon, after she has been 'sacrificed' by a Satan-worshipping rock group who (wrongly) supposed she was a virgin. And no, you're not meant to believe this. Just as well. All this is preceded by a fire at the local bar that kills 12 students, several parents and a teacher at the high school where Jennifer is queen bee. Now, newly Satanised, she can levitate and has a thirst for boys' blood.

Best friend Needy (Seyfried, easily the best thing in it) cottons on, but understandably has problems convincing anyone else, even her dull boyfriend (dully played by Johnny Simmons). 'She's feeding on boys,' squawks Needy, before realising she has to deal with Jennifer herself, or no one else will.

'I'm not going to bite you,' protests Jennifer, on one of the many quips that are too trite to really raise a laugh. Best line: 'She's staring out the window, - like a robot manikin zombie statue!' Continuity hounds should watch out for the scene in which Jennifer tries to seduce Needy, and the latter's glasses come on and off in different shots.

David Quinlan

USA 2009. UK Distributor: 20th Century Fox (Fox Atomic). Colour by deluxe.
102 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 2, Drugs 1, Swearing 2.

Review date: 31 Oct 2009