This post includes a character analysis of Needy Lesnicki, the protagonist of the 2009 film “Jennifer’s Body”. Beware of spoilers.
The 2009 horror comedy directed by Karyn Kusama stars Amanda Seyfried as Anita “Needy” Lesnicki.
Jennifer’s Body
In Jennifer’s Body, Anita “Needy” Lesnicki is a shy high school girl who is best friends with Jennifer Check, the popular cheerleader. During a night out to watch a band called “Low Shoulder”, the bar catches fire, injuring many. However, the two girls managed to escape.
After the fire incident, Needy headed back home, while Jennifer decided to stay behind with the band. Later that night, Needy finds Jennifer at her place covered in blood and vomiting a black liquid. Needy realizes that something bad happened to Jennifer and that her friend is not the same anymore.
The band sacrificed Jennifer to Satan, thinking she was a virgin, but she wasn’t. The ritual turned her into a demon who feeds on human flesh. As a result, Jennifer starts killing boys from their school to become more beautiful and powerful.
Jennifer seduces Needy, and they make out. The latter feels conflicted about the whole ordeal. As a form of retaliation, Jennifer goes after Needy’s boyfriend. During prom night, she kills Chip and fights Needy.
To settle things once and for all, Needy goes to Jennifer’s house. Another violent physical confrontation ensues between the girls, which ends with Needy stabbing Jennifer in the heart with a box cutter. Shortly after, Needy is arrested and sent to an asylum.
Needy developed some of Jennifer’s powers after the bite. She uses her new-found abilities to escape the mental institution. Then, Needy hitchhikes to the hotel where “Low Shoulder” is staying. After sneaking into their hotel room, Needy kills them all in revenge for what they did to Jennifer.
Note: For those who are interested, here is a more in-depth article discussing what happened at the end of Jennifer’s Body (2009).
Needy Lesnicki Character Analysis in “Jennifer’s Body”
“Jennifer’s Body” presents Anita “Needy” Lesnicki as a nerdy girl who is the best friend of the main antagonist, Jennifer Check. She often wears glasses and has a more conservative style compared to Jennifer’s more revealing outfits.
In terms of personality, “Needy” Lesnicki is shy and insecure. Sometimes, she feels a bit overshadowed by Jennifer’s outgoing and confident personality. Nonetheless, Needy has a strong sense of morality and justice. After finding out that Jennifer was killing innocent people, Needy tried to stop her best friend.
Needy Lesnicki Character Arc
The protagonist of “Jennifer’s Body” and her personality go through significant changes throughout the film. Needy Lesnicki’s character arc in “Jennifer’s Body” is a complex and tragic one. As the story progresses, Needy goes from a shy high school girl to an anti-hero who uses her demonic abilities for good.
There are mainly two defining moments in Needy’s life. The first one occurred when she witnessed Jennifer killing Chip, her beloved boyfriend. Then the second moment happened when Needy had to kill Jennifer, her best friend. Despite successfully avenging Chip and Jennifer’s deaths, Needy loses some of her humanity and innocence in the process.
Needy Lesnicki and Jennifer Check (Relationship Analysis)
The relationship between Needy Lesnicki and Jennifer Check is complex: the two girls are in a toxic relationship. Despite being friends for years, Needy and Jennifer harbour very conflicting feelings about each other.
On the surface, they seemed to be two individuals who shared a mutual attraction and affection. However, underneath their seemingly deep bond lies a lot of tension and jealousy. Due to their different personalities and lifestyles, each plays a different role in the relationship.
Needy is a shy, nerdy, and loyal girl who admires Jennifer. However, she also somehow resents her popularity and sees through her selfishness. Then there is Jennifer, one of the popular girls. Underneath her beautiful appearance lies an insecure individual. Despite caring about Needy, she also manipulates her best friend for her benefit.
Jennifer and Needy’s relationship is strained by external factors. For instance, Chip, Needy’s boyfriend, is “jealous” of their friendship. Then there is “Low Shoulder”, the band that sacrificed Jennifer in exchange for fame and fortune.
After the brutal assault, Jennifer was never the same. In the process, Needy had to make a difficult decision: stop her best friend or continue watching Jennifer kill boys for their flesh and blood. Despite Needy’s struggles with her own feelings and morality, she realizes that Jennifer is not her friend anymore, but a monster who only cares about herself.
Was Needy in love with Jennifer?
It’s rather open for interpretation whether Needy was in love with Jennifer or not. However, one thing is certain: their connection goes beyond a typical friendship. They are comfortable around each other, up to the point of performing rather intimate acts on each other, such as kissing and touching.
Final Thoughts
Needy Lesnicki’s character in Jennifer’s Body is a symbol of the “good girl” archetype. She is the opposite of Jennifer Check’s character, who is the “bad girl” archetype. In addition, Needy’s character represents the struggle of young women to find their own identity and voice in a world that often tries to silence them.
In a way, Needy and Jennifer represent the struggles that women often face in a world dominated by the “male gaze”. The twisted relationship that Needy shares with Jennifer reflects the jealousy that often plagues female friendships. Also, Jennifer’s insatiable appetite is a metaphor for women’s pressure to be beautiful and to compete with each other for male attention and validation.
Jennifer’s Body uses horror elements to explore the previously mentioned themes. In addition, the film provides two strong female characters that drive the entire plot. On one hand, there is Needy Lesnicki, the protagonist. Then on the other hand, there is Jennifer Check, the antagonist. Together, they subvert the traditional gender roles in horror films.
Needy Lesnicki is a character who represents female empowerment and friendship, as well as the dark side of human nature. In this story, she is a victim, a survivor and a fighter. Overall, Needy Lesnicki is a complex and tragic character. Not only did she lose her first boyfriend, but Needy also lost her best friend, Jennifer.
