Bottoms
Bottoms is a 2023 American satirical black comedy film directed by Emma Seligman and co-written with Rachel Sennott. It centers on two unpopular lesbian high school seniors, Josie and PJ, who start a self-defense fight club as a misguided and manipulative scheme to attract and hook up with their cheerleader crushes. The movie operates in an exaggerated, surreal high school environment, full of hyperbole and dark humor, satirizing classic teen movie tropes and the social hierarchy. It features a fast-paced narrative with frequent, often graphic, comedic violence, pervasive strong language, and explicit sexual themes. The film is intended for a mature audience due to its adult content and themes.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighThe film centrally features two lesbian protagonists, Josie and PJ, whose primary motivation for starting a fight club is to attract and engage romantically and sexually with their female crushes. It offers prominent queer representation, normalizing lesbian characters in a teen comedy, though some portrayals have been noted to lean into potentially problematic stereotypes.
The main characters, Josie and PJ, are explicitly referred to as 'unpopular lesbian virgins' who orchestrate an elaborate scheme (the fight club) to 'seduce female cheerleaders' like Isabel and Brittany. A significant plotline involves Josie's developing relationship with Isabel (a 'queer Asian American girl'), culminating in their passionate kiss at the film's conclusion.
Violence
HighBottoms contains frequent and often graphic comedic violence, including close-up depictions of physical altercations with visible blood, cuts, and injuries. While mostly played for dark laughs, some scenes portray violence more seriously, and the climax features extreme, fantastical violence.
The fight club scenes involve 'lots of strong and very strong violence with blood,' showing 'close-up shots of girls punching, kicking and throwing each other, with lots of blood splattered or cuts and wounds showing,' all presented for dark humor. In the film's climax, there is a large-scale fight where girls battle male football players, resulting in 'one player gets impaled, and one player's head explodes after being kicked,' with all the male players comically dying.
Romance and Sexual Content
HighSexual content and explicit references are pervasive and central to the film's plot, which revolves around the protagonists' desire to lose their virginity and 'hook up' with cheerleaders. The film features crude sexual jokes, suggestive situations, and implied sexual activity.
The entire narrative is built upon PJ and Josie's goal of 'finally get[ting] some pussy' by starting a fight club to attract their crushes. A scene depicts two teenage girls (PJ and Hazel) sharing a passionate kiss, followed by one stripping to her bra, implying subsequent sexual activity as the camera cuts away. Additionally, 'loud moaning is heard while a middle-aged mother and a teenage boy (depicted as 18) have unseen sex.'
Profanity
HighThe movie contains nearly constant strong profanity, with a very high frequency of explicit language throughout the dialogue.
According to one review, the film contains 'at least 121 obscenities (including at least 74 F words, mostly in a sexual context), one Jesus profanity, one GD profanity, and nine light profanities.' The dialogue is consistently described as 'very strong and crude language' and 'raunchy and absurd.'
Disrespect & Rebellion
HighDisrespect and rebellious behavior are central to the protagonists' actions and the film's satirical tone. The main characters consistently engage in manipulation, lies, and defiance against authority figures, and the school environment itself is depicted as chaotic and lawless.
Josie and PJ establish their 'fight club' under the false pretense of 'self-defense' to avoid expulsion and further their personal agendas. The principal (Principal Meyers) is portrayed as largely oblivious and even contributes to the protagonists' 'delinquent' reputation by calling them 'the ugly and untalented gays' over the intercom. Characters also make dark comedic comments, such as one character expressing a desire to 'learn to kill her stepfather,' and another bombing an empty car.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumWhile much of the graphic violence is played for dark comedy, some scenes are inherently intense and could be disturbing, even within the film's satirical framework. The overall exaggerated reality and 'anything goes' tone contribute to an unpredictable and at times unsettling atmosphere.
The movie features 'very graphic scenes all throughout the movie' which are 'not for the faint of heart, especially if you get queasy at the sight of blood.' A scene depicting Hazel 'getting beaten to a pulp by the school's top boxer, Tim,' is specifically highlighted as 'the most serious and disturbing scene of the film' that 'interrupts the general spirit of amusement.'
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumThe film's strong pro-LGBTQ+ themes, pervasive crude sexual content, graphic violence, and irreverent humor may be viewed as contrary to Christian values. While there is no explicit mockery of Christian beliefs, a parody of religious art is present, and the overall moral tone could be problematic for Christian parents.
A Christian media review describes the film as 'offensive, raunchy and pro-homosexual,' which would be a significant concern for Christian parents. The school features a mural that is a 'takeoff of Michelangelo's painting of God and Adam' and includes male nudity, which some might consider irreverent or sacrilegious.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere is no explicit depiction or mention of witchcraft, sorcery, magic rituals, demons, or other occult themes in the film.
N/A
Substance Use
LowSubstance use is minimal and not a significant plot point. There is one brief instance of a character smoking.
One minor character is shown smoking 'some kind of cigar or cigarette in one scene.' No other explicit alcohol or drug abuse is noted as central to the story.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
18+ due to pervasive crude sexual content, explicit LGBTQ+ themes, frequent strong profanity, and graphic, albeit comedic, violence. The film's R-rating by the MPAA reinforces its mature themes and content.
Additional Notes
The film is a standalone feature and does not have sequels, seasons, or adaptations to track for evolving content concerns. Its humor is highly satirical and absurdist, which influences the portrayal of violence and other mature themes.
Related Reviews
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