[ i n s e r t s p o i l e r w a r n i n g h e r e ]
Here lies Jennifer Check, titular antagonist of the 2009 film Jennifer's Body. The film centers around the relationship between popular flag girl Jennifer and the nerdy Anita "Needy" Lesnicki, who, against all odds, have been best friends since childhood. Early on in the plot, they attend a concert at a local dive bar headlined by an indie band called "Low Shoulder." Though a suspicious fire breaks out, killing several people, the members of Low Shoulder escape unfazed. Needy and Jennifer survive as well, but a bewildered and inebriated Jennifer soon leaves in the band's van, despite Needy's protests.
It is later revealed that Low Shoulder had taken Jennifer into the woods and violently offered her as a virgin sacrifice in a bid for fame and fortune. However, because she was not actually a virgin, the exchange resulted in her body becoming possessed, requiring the consumption of human flesh for sustenance. In the time following, she wreaks havoc on the mourning town of Devil's Kettle by hunting its young men. Needy, meanwhile, is shocked to learn the truth of Jennifer's strange and horrific behaviors yet nonetheless finds herself devoted to her, even as the rift between them grows. This all culminates in a confrontation on the night of their high school's spring formal: a vindictive Jennifer lures away and feeds on Chip, Needy's boyfriend; Needy arrives and fights Jennifer, but Jennifer escapes while Chip dies; and finally, the anguished Needy later breaks into Jennifer's bedroom and kills her, along with the succubus inside.
Discovered atop Jennifer's corpse by her mother, Needy is brought to a mental asylum. She is able to escape due to the supernatural abilities she inherited through a non-lethal bite from Jennifer during their scuffle. Needy then hitchhikes to Low Shoulder's next (and final) performance venue, slaughtering the members in their hotel room.
Given the awful, remorseless acts by Low Shoulder that led to Jennifer's possession in the first place, it's clear that she is not the ultimate evil in this tale. Jennifer is a victim in her own right, whose faults do not justify the terrors inflicted upon her. Subverting typical horror tropes that punish women for sexual behavior, the film exhibits her sexuality as a source of power. It saves her from dying at the hands of the band and enables her to exact revenge on those who objectify her.
Nevertheless, she remains a villain of sorts — even before the man-eating, she could be insensitive at best and manipulative at worst. Jennifer constantly belittled Needy and sought to keep her in her shadow, while also trying to undermine Needy's relationship with Chip. Upon closer inspection, it appears that much of Jennifer's capacity for cruelty, even towards her best friend, stemmed from her own deep insecurites. Many interpret Jennifer's pursuit of Chip as driven not only by spite, but competitively possessive feelings over Needy. Sprinkled throughout the film are instances indicating romantic and sexual tension between Needy and Jennifer: hand-holding during the concert; adoring gazes from Needy; and, of course, the long and passionate kissing scene. It's their enduring, intimate bond that prevents Jennifer from fatally hurting Needy in the face of overwhelming succubus hunger; it's what makes the moment when Needy rips off her "BFF" necklace all the more devastating. One tragedy of Jennifer's Body lies in the lost potential of the duo's flawed yet intense friendship — which was, perhaps, always plagued by a society that was set on driving them apart.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
In an alternate fantasy, Needy and Jennifer would grow closer, both coming to terms with their own insecurities and traumas and making amends with one another. Sometime between Jennifer's confession to Needy about the night of the fire and the spring formal, Needy approaches Jennifer with the books she had shown Chip. She tells Jennifer what she had learned from the occult section of the library about demonhood, suggesting that they could work it out, somehow. As awesome as Jennifer's new powers may be, Low Shoulder still condemned her to a rather unsustainable life of dependence on violence. They elect to run away together, at least for a while; Jennifer can feed without further reaping the small population of Devil's Kettle and Needy can continue researching. After all, if a succubus could be summoned in the first place, it could be banished as well, right? Exorcisms, talismans, there ought to be something... some way to lose the demon without losing Jennifer too.
A heartfelt farewell to Chip, and the duo take off. Needy makes Jennifer promise to feed sparingly. Scumbags only. On the road, their relationship develops as they reminisce on their childhood. There is a particularly bad fight, rife with brutally honest digs, but it's fortunately free of bloodshed. Plus, the night ends in more sincere and passionate smooches than ever before. Eventually, Jennifer and Needy attempt their first ritual, which does demand a sacrifice. No worries — Jennifer has the perfect subjects in mind. Cue the bloody visit to Low Shoulder's hotel room, à la the original ending to the film, and the offering is prepared. One last thing: Needy must stab Jennifer in the heart (also like the actual film) to expel the demon. Since it is unknown whether the ritual will work or not, or if this will kill Jennifer, she is tremendously apprehensive. With some tender reassurances from her best friend, Needy plunges the utility knife into her chest. Luckily for them, the process was a success, although Jennifer laments over her stab wound.
Jennifer: My tit. :(
Needy: No, your heart. ♡
The bond between Needy and Jennifer is stronger and better than ever. Possibilities for the future are abundant. Years down the line they marry, and glue an extra rhinestone to each of their BFF necklaces.
"Sandbox love never dies."
(thanks for hosting! sorry this was an absolute mouthful x_x, took a while to coordinate...)
