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Netflix's latest film, It's What's Inside, debuted in the Midnight section at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2024, and became available to Netflix subscribers on October 4. Directed by Greg Jardin in his first major film project, this thriller features the mayhem that ensues when a circle of former college friends engages in body-swapping via a mysterious device.
Set in a grand estate during a pre-wedding gathering, the movie explores what happens when the attendees switch consciousness through an enigmatic machine. The film stars Brittany O’Grady as Shelby, James Morosini as Cyrus, and Alycia Debnam-Carey as Nikki, with supporting performances from Nina Bloomgarden, Gavin Leatherwood, and Devon Terrell.
The plot twists and turns through a maze of personal betrayals and supernatural mishaps. The screenplay cleverly interweaves each character’s backstory into the central plot arc, providing motives and stakes that heighten the tension of the body-swapping game.
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The film starts as a seemingly light-hearted exploration of old friends reuniting, only to delve into darker themes of identity, revenge, and self-discovery. Each plot twist is carefully crafted to not only shock but also to develop the characters further, revealing deeper layers of their personalities as they adapt to their new bodies.
The storyline is tight, with each scene building upon the last, ensuring that audience engagement never wanes. The plot structure keeps viewers guessing, making the film’s climax both surprising and satisfying.
It's What's Inside: Cinematography and direction
The visual storytelling in the movie skillfully captures the chaos of the body-swapping premise without confusing viewers. Director Greg Jardin, in his debut feature, opts for a clear and methodical approach to cinematography, ensuring that each character swap is visually different.
The strategy is achieved through distinctive lighting cues and camera angles that subtly hint at the character inhabiting a body at any given moment. The camera work is dynamic, with fluid tracking shots that follow the characters as they navigate the sprawling estate, showing their emotional isolation despite physical closeness.
Jardin's direction is deliberate, favoring tight close-ups to capture the actors’ nuanced performances and effectively convey the internal turmoil of characters trapped in unfamiliar bodies.
The result is a film that feels both intimate and expansive, a tricky balance to maintain in a story sprawling with a complicated plot.
It's What's Inside: Acting and character development
Brittany O’Grady's portrayal of Shelby is particularly noteworthy, as she navigates her character's insecurities and gradual empowerment with a deft touch that resonates with authenticity. James Morosini's Cyrus is equally compelling, as he captures a mix of vulnerability and misguided desire that makes his character’s journey crucial.
Alycia Debnam-Carey, as Nikki, handles her character's transformation from a superficial influencer to a woman confronted by her own superficiality with aplomb. The supporting cast, including Nina Bloomgarden and Gavin Leatherwood, add depth to the narrative, each bringing a unique flavor to their roles that becomes particularly intriguing when they switch bodies.
It's What's Inside: Musical score and atmosphere
The musical score of It's What's Inside subtly underscores the film’s shifts from comedic to thriller tones. The music is an integral part of the atmosphere, mirroring the escalating tension and providing a haunting backdrop to the more suspenseful scenes. Composed with a mix of eerie synths and sudden crescendos, the score effectively enhances the emotional impact of key moments without overwhelming them.
During the body-swapping sequences, the choice of music cleverly uses motifs that recur in variations, each tailored to the current inhabitant of the body. This technique aids the audience in tracking the character swaps.
It's What's Inside: Comparison to similar films and overall impact
It's What's Inside stands apart from other body-swap films like Freaky or The Change-Up through its unique blend of horror and introspective drama. Unlike its predecessors, which often lean heavily into comedy or horror, Jardin’s film maintains a delicate balance between the two, placing a major focus on the emotional and ethical ramifications of body-swapping.
The film does not shy away from exploring the darker consequences of its premise, inviting viewers to ponder deeper questions about identity and consent.
Interested individuals can stream It's What's Inside on Netflix.
