Known for his distinctive comedic style and authentic portrayals of himself, Pete Davidson has also demonstrated his versatility across various genres, including horror. While 2025’s The Home highlights Davidson’s evolving horror presence, his chilling and captivating performance in the 2022 cult favorite Bodies Bodies Bodies first established him as a notable scream king in the genre.
Produced by A24, Bodies Bodies Bodies was initially released alongside other notable films like The Whale and Everything Everywhere All at Once. Though somewhat overlooked at its debut, the movie steadily gained a devoted following and now enjoys cult status, recognized especially for its blending of horror and dark comedy.
A Deadly Game Amongst Gen Z Friends During a Storm
Bodies Bodies Bodies unfolds during a hurricane at a secluded mansion where a group of friends gathers to weather the storm. The cast includes Sophie (Amandla Stenberg), Bee (Maria Bakalova), Greg (Lee Pace), Max (Conner O’Malley), Jordan (Myha’la Herrold), and Alice (Rachel Sennott), creating a diverse hurricane party ensemble. Pete Davidson plays David, the mansion’s wealthy owner, who arrives with his girlfriend Emma (Chase Sui Wonders).
As the storm intensifies outside, the friends indulge in drinking, dancing, and drug use, which escalates tension. Their entertainment culminates in playing the titular game, Bodies Bodies Bodies, a murder mystery challenge where players must survive until dawn. However, the game takes a deadly turn as members of the group begin actually dying, turning fiction into reality.
The film captures the escalating paranoia as the night drags on, with the group’s interpersonal conflicts surfacing. Petty grievances and personality clashes deepen the mystery, complicated by moments of gaslighting and toxic behaviors highlighted through Gen Z cultural references. Writers Sarah DeLappe and Kristen Roupenian craft a sharp exploration of these dynamics, embedding them within the suspenseful narrative.
Modern Horror-Comedy Reflects on Social Dynamics and Generational Tensions
Bodies Bodies Bodies offers a snapshot of Gen Z archetypes and social divides. Bee, from a working-class background, contrasts with the affluent David, illustrating economic disparities relevant to this generation’s financial anxieties. Alice, a podcaster, navigates skepticism from the group due to her relationship with the significantly older Greg, drawing attention to generation gaps and outdated sexual norms. Meanwhile, Sophie and Emma share a candid moment, exploring themes of sobriety and breaking traditional boundaries.
This film adds to the trend of 2020s horror-comedies that combine humor with biting social insight, providing thrilling experiences that highlight contemporary culture. It echoes the legacy of genre-defining predecessors such as Scream (1996), using its narrative to dissect social tensions within a youthful cast.
Critic Tomris Laffly praised the film’s nuanced direction, calling it,
“A dance between what the camera shows vs. chooses to conceal. Well-versed in genre language [it] keeps you guessing here, sometimes even making you wish you could rewind to a few seconds ago and take another look at what just happened.”
Marya E. Gates of The Playlist emphasized the movie’s effective balance:
“By combining petty drama, deadpan humor, and the terror of human emotions, the filmmakers effortlessly straddle a liminal space between comedy and horror, never quite tipping their hand too far into either genre. Featuring a solid ensemble of promising young talent, Bodies Bodies Bodies is a true crowd-pleaser destined to take its place on the mantle with seminal horror-comedy faves like Jennifer’s Body and Scream.”
Davidson’s Versatility Shines Through in a Role That Redefines His Range
Director Halina Reijn saw casting Pete Davidson in Bodies Bodies Bodies as an opportunity to showcase the actor’s dramatic talents beyond his usual comedic and goofy persona. Reijn expressed the intent to engage with a “darker way” of working with Davidson, recognizing his “serious acting skills” and aiming to avoid limiting him to the stereotypical “goofy, stoner” character often expected.
In the film, Davidson plays David, the wealthy, somewhat aloof member of the group who drives much of the plot. Though his character still displays moments of humor, he delivers some of the sharpest dialogue and ultimately reveals critical clues that lead to solving the movie’s mystery. Davidson’s performance established him as an edgy yet approachable figure within the horror genre.
More recently, Davidson’s lead role in The Home, directed by James DeMonaco, similarly explores the multiple facets of his acting ability. DeMonaco praised Davidson’s depth, recalling his initial impressions:
“I got to know him as a person first, before being an actor. He’s a great guy. And then, I started seeing his work… Big Time Adolescence really blew me away. I was like, ‘Wow, this is an interesting character.’ It’s not Pete. It’s not that guy I know at all. That character is a little aloof, always jokey, and he’s a smart-ass. Pete’s got that, but he’s got this whole other dimension. I saw a lot of that in The King of Staten Island and that blew me away. I thought that he had amazing moments, especially when he’s alone in that movie. And in the movie that we might do together, he’s alone quite a lot.”
Davidson’s expanding body of work, including his scream king roles, underscores his evolving status as a multifaceted actor capable of blending humor, vulnerability, and suspense. Fans interested in testing his horror chops can stream Bodies Bodies Bodies on Prime Video and Apple TV, while The Home is currently playing in theaters.
