Spoiler warning
Karyn Kusama's horror comedy "Jennifer's Body" has gained a massive cult following since its release in 2009.
The cast includes notable actors like Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried, and the screenplay was written by Diablo Cody, an Academy Award winner and the writer of the recently released Lisa Frankenstein.
The film is memorable for its dingy, emo soundtrack with well-known bands like Panic! At The Disco, Florence + The Machine and Hole.
The soundtrack, supervised by Randall Poster, was released through Fueled by Ramen on Aug. 25, 2009. Many of the credited bands, like Panic! At The Disco, All Time Low and Cobra Starship asked to write songs for the soundtrack. Other artists, like Hole, Foreigner and Akon, were only licensed for their particular songs in the film and did not make it onto the released soundtrack.
The soundtrack reflects the type of music that teenagers were listening to in 2009. It even acts as an homage to Megan Fox's character, Jennifer Check, who has a love for indie rock music and MySpace. Her love of music drives the plot forward as she drags along her best friend, Anita "Needy" Lesnicky (Amanda Seyfried), to an indie rock show at their hometown bar.
In an interview with MoviesOnline, Kusama said, "The music was a huge component of the movie. First, the songs that we see and hear performed, but then, just the vibe of the movie, actually."
Kusama goes on to explain that the further the movie progresses, the clearer it becomes that the film’s youth-oriented music is one of its major characteristics. While some of the bands were invented for the film, others were not.
The made-up band in question is Low Shoulder, the fictional indie rock group that performs at the bar Jennifer and Needy attend at the beginning of the movie. Low Shoulder plays its song, "Through The Trees," which is a slow, guitar-fronted rock tune that continues to pop up throughout the movie. An instrumental rendition can be heard in the movie's opening scene when Needy is thrown into the prison's calm-down room.
"Through The Trees" is a connecting theme between the band's first show, the grieving small-town community and the band's eventual journey to fame after exploiting the victims of a brutal tragedy. What once was an innocent song that Jennifer found on MySpace became her school's "anthem" after a fire broke out at the bar Melody Lane.
The band members claimed they helped people escape, but in actuality, they left the bar in ruins, kidnapped Jennifer and performed a Satanic sacrifice ritual on her to gain fame and fortune. The plan backfires when Jennifer doesn't die and is resurrected as a succubus. The song, becoming an overnight hit, taunts Jennifer and Needy through the rest of the film, ending in Jennifer's unfortunate demise and Needy murdering the band after escaping prison.
The other diegetic songs on the soundtrack include Screeching Weasel's cover of "I Can See Clearly Now," Akon and Snoop Dogg's "I Wanna Love You," and "New In Town" by Little Boots.
"New In Town" plays in the background of Jennifer's room as she is on the phone with Needy. This particular sequence features one of the most notable scenes of the entire movie: Jennifer holding a lighter under her tongue and burning the tip. When it quickly heals, she proudly states, "I am a God."
The audio and visual contract is tight for many of the scenes in the movie even with the non-diegetic tracks. "Urgent" by Foreigner creates a honky-tonk vibe as it introduces the audience to Melody Lane. The song fades to "Two Tickets To Paradise" by Eddie Money, which keeps the feeling of old rock alive in the setting. On the other hand, "Celestial Crown" by The Sword establishes an eerie, almost jarring vibe as it plays in the background of Jennifer's victims being torn to pieces. All of the songs pull the viewer into the respective scenes and create an atmosphere the audience can almost live in.
Other notable songs from the soundtrack include "Kiss With a Fist" by Florence + The Machine and "New Perspective" by Panic! At The Disco.
"Kiss With a Fist" starts the sequence of Devil's Kettle students getting ready for their spring formal, with a sideline from Needy describing the series of events. Eventually, it fades into "New Perspective" as Chip and Needy prepare for the dance and take photos with their families. The songs are not necessarily noteworthy for their space within the film but rather for their stance as pivotal tracks by artists from beyond the screen.
The film flows into its credit sequence with "Violet" by Hole. The song's angry, violent nature meshes perfectly with Needy's murder spree, especially as the crime scene photos of the aftermath are displayed on the screen. The film is an artistic masterpiece until the very last visual. The credits roll with songs "Ready for the Floor" by Lissy Trullie, "Chew Me Up and Spit Me Out" by Cobra Starship and "Toxic Valentine" by All Time Low, leading the audience out of the movie.
Overall, the "Jennifer's Body" soundtrack is full of nostalgic yet relevant tracks that pertain to the movie's theme and setting. They allow the audience to immerse themselves in the film's horror and teen comedy aspects. Some tracks have grown beyond their place on screen and have become beloved songs by their respective artists. However, they will all have a lasting tie to this dark comedy and its loyal fan community.
