Embedded Files
Jennnifer's Body places emphasis on the friendship of Jennifer and Needy and repeatedly spotlights the two girl's connection outside of their involvement with men. In his review of the film for The New York Times, A.O. Scott says, "The antagonism and attraction between boys and girls is a relatively straightforward (if, in this case, grisly) matter; the real terror, the stuff of Needy’s nightmares, lies in the snares and shadows of female friendship."
In a time that prioritized a woman's connection to a man, in this aspect especially, Cody's work is groundbreaking.
Needy's Prioritization of Jennifer
Needy's Prioritization of Jennifer
Needy has a complicated relationship with Jennifer, which is reflective of real-life friendships. Though Jennifer was often cruel to Needy, their friendship dominates the storyline of the screenplay just like it does Needy's life. Within the first few scenes of the film, the audience is made keenly aware of how much Jennifer means to Needy. For instance, when Needy rejects plans with Jennifer and Jennifer become upset, Needy quicky concedes and changes her plans to accommodate Jennifer. Further, while Needy is in a relationship, she constantly chooses Jennifer over Chip. A telling example if this prioritization may be seen during the first time Needy and Chip have sex: Needy is overtaken by Jennifer's emotions during this moment, explaining to Chip that "it's her, [Jennifer]" (Cody 65) regarding why she was in distress.
Differences Between Moments of Intimacy
Differences Between Moments of Intimacy
There is also a stark contrast between Needy and Chip's moment of intimacy compared to a similar moment that Needy and Jennifer share. Needy and Chip's experience together was not enjoyable to Needy, with Cody writing that "Needy’s vacant eyes [were] suddenly brimming with tears"(64). Needy and Jennifer's kiss, on the other hand, though confusing to Needy, was natural, soft, and passionate. By showing Needy's preference for Jennifer over Chip, the film effectively denounces the importance of a woman's connection to a man.
Needy's Revenge for Jennifer
Needy's Revenge for Jennifer
In the last pages of the screenplay, the reader learns that Needy plans to avenge Jennifer's sacrifice by breaking out of prison and killing the members of "Low Shoulder". Needy's exacting of revenge further exemplifies the character's deep friendship with Jennifer: after all the bloodshed, Needy still holds grief over Jennifer's loss. Interestingly, Needy is ultimately Jennifer's cause of death, but it is clear that Needy was not murdering her friend, but the demon Jennifer became at the hands of "Low Shoulder".
Anita "Needy" Lesnicki
Anita "Needy" Lesnicki
Jennifer Check
Jennifer Check
Despite what may be immediately obvious of the dynamic between the two friends (or by what's suggested from the world-play of the character's names), the most important relationship Jennifer has in the film is hers with Needy. Through the character of Jennifer, too, Cody explores the importance of female connections.
Eating as a Means to Stay Close
Eating as a Means to Stay Close
Jennnifer choses her prey sometimes based on proximity and availability. In other instances, Jennifer choses which boy to eat based on Needy. For example, Jennifer only chooses to go out with a character named Collin (with, undeniably, the intention to eat him) after Needy demonstrated interest in him. Prior to Needy's evaluation, Jennifer was completely uninterested. While it may be interpreted that Jennifer's behavior towards Needy is only an act to stay in competition for male validation and serves to highlight the struggles of maintaining female friendships, it may also be seen as a way to show the audience the deeply hidden care Jennifer has for Needy.
Differences Between Moments of Intimacy
Differences Between Moments of Intimacy
Though Jennifer's explorations of sexuality are largely the opposite of intimate throughout the film, there is one exception to this: her kiss with Needy. It is abundantly clear that Jennifer views sex with boys as transactional and only as a way to garner power for herself. This viewpoint is not shared in relation to intimacy with Needy, however. Jennifer does not want to eat Needy; therefore, Jennifer's romantic intentions with her friend must serve a cause dissimilar to her intentions with men. Jennifer, in her kiss with Needy, is gentle, which is also completely opposing to how she behaves with men.
The Friendship Necklace
The Friendship Necklace
Throughout the film, Jennifer wears a friendship necklace she shares with Needy. The audience sees the importance of this necklace to Jennifer first when she is swimming in an open lake, wearing nothing except for the necklace. Though it may be coincidental, the necklace appears to hold an intentionality in the scene. The symbolism of the necklace is further underscored later in the film, when Jennifer dies. Though she is impaled by Needy on prom night, Jennifer finally surrenders her half-life after Needy rips the necklace from her body. This removal of necklace symbolizes an obvious end of the girls' friendship, and it is no unimportant fact that Jennifer's story ends at this point.
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