Jennifer's Body

Jennifer's Body inhabits a slightly more sophisticated arena of horror than, say, a film like My Bloody Valentine. Jennifer's Body never supercharges the genre like Drag Me To Hell either, but there's something going on that sparks interest.
The mixture of Diablo Cody dialogue and the predicaments of high schoolers Needy (Amanda Seyfried) and Jennifer (Megan Fox) are JB's best assets. The Cody style of talk is way toned down from the vernacular of Juno yet there's a couple of zingers. Director Karyn Kusama (Girlfight, Aeon Flux) displays no personal style. Rather she keeps the action moving along an escalating thread where the meek Needy watches unblinkingly as her bff Jennifer becomes possessed by a demon. It seems that when Jennifer was abducted by a touring band they botched the Satanic rites they were using to sacrifice her and instead created a monster.
The few adults seen in supporting roles never overshadow the teen trauma unfolding, although it was jolting to see J.K. Simmons sporting a fine head of curly hair. By the time the conclusion rolls around the complete story seems solid enough. You also have to admit the film becomes more about Seyfried than Fox as Needy makes the biggest transformation. One that creates a new monster and, one suspects, a sequel.
One impressive set piece involves a fire breaking out in a small club while a band plays inside and the subsequent near-riot as the patrons try to escape. The horror effects are effective while staying away from slasher territory.