Verbal Diorama - Episode 121 - Jennifer's Body - Verbal Diorama

Episode 121

Jennifer's Body (ft Helen O'Hara from Empire)

Published on: 28th October, 2021

You could say Jennifer's Body was wildly misunderstood on its release in 2009. Just seen as yet another titillating teen horror capitalising on the sexuality of its lead actor Megan Fox, and heralded as neither funny nor scary; the Diablo Cody-penned, Karyn Kusama-directed, horror-comedy seemed to be destined for the DVD bargain bin....

And then, in recent years, the tide has turned because now people seem to not only understand it, but appreciate it.

Its commentary on female relationships, society's pressure on women and, more recently, the #MeToo movement highlighting sexual harassment and abuse in the media, and the commodification of women's bodies by powerful men, Jennifer's Body is now seen as a feminist cult horror and has been retrospectively reappraised. (TW for discussions of rape, sexual abuse and sexual harassment, specifically related to the Harvey Weinstein case)

Joining me to discuss Jennifer's Body is Helen O'Hara, editor-at-large of Empire, co-host of the Empire Film Podcast, author of Women vs Hollywood: The Fall and Rise of Women in Film and host of the podcast Women vs Hollywood. It was amazing and fascinating to chat to Helen about this movie, and I'd highly recommend her book! You can find her @HelenLOHara on Twitter. Huge thanks for coming on to Verbal Diorama, Helen!

I would love to hear your thoughts on Jennifer's Body!

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About the Podcast

Verbal Diorama
The award-winning podcast celebrating the history and legacy of movies you know, and movies you don't.
The award-winning podcast celebrating the history and legacy of movies you know, and movies you don't.

Have you ever wondered how your favourite movies were made? Hosted by Em, Verbal Diorama takes you behind the scenes to discover the extraordinary stories of cast and crew who bring movies to life.

Movies are tough to make, and this podcast proves how amazing it is that they actually exist. From Hollywood classics to hidden gems, each episode explores the history, legacy, and untold stories that make cinema magic.

Ear Worthy 2024 Best Movie Podcast Winner | Golden Lobes 2025 Earworm Award Nominee | Ear Worthy 2025 Best Movie Podcast Nominee

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About your host

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Em .

Hi! I'm Em. I created Verbal Diorama in 2018, and launched the podcast in February 2019 to rapturous applause and acclaim.... from my cat Jess.

The modus operandi of Verbal Diorama is simple: movies are tough to make! The coming together of a team of people from all walks of life to make something to entertain, delight and educate us for 90+ mins is not an easy task, and yet so many succeed at it. That must be something to celebrate.

I'm here to do just that - to celebrate movies. Their history and legacy, and why they remain so special to so many of us.

Episodes are audibly book ended by Jess. She sadly passed away in March 2022, aged almost 18. She featured in many episodes of the podcast, and that's why you can hear her at the end of every episode. The role of official feline producer is now held by the comparatively quieter Evie and Peggy.

I love podcasts, and listen to many, but never my own.

I unashamedly love The Mummy (1999) and Grease 2. I'm still looking for a cool rider.