It's What's Inside Summary and Review - A Stylish Game of Secrets and Survival

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It's What's Inside is a sharp, snappy and stylish modern horror comedy that will keep you guessing and wondering what's coming next. And, in truth, it's pretty much as clever as it thinks it is.

The Gathering

The story kicks off with a glimpse into the relationship between Shelby and Cyrus, where sympathies veer towards Shelby - Cyrus, it seems, struggles with the basics of being an emotionally mature partner. The tension between them is clear but they put this to one side as they reunite with their old college friends after eight years, gathering for a pre-wedding celebration at the house of their soon-to-be-married friend, Reuben. With a blend of vintage charm and the avant-garde, the house itself feels like an extension of the film’s offbeat energy.

As the group reconnects over drinks and nostalgia, they reflect on an old scandal - the expulsion of their former classmate, Forbes. Through a cleverly edited flashback montage, we quickly piece together the details of his downfall before he vanished into the world of high-tech following his disgrace.

The Return of Forbes

Then, just as the party is in full swing, Forbes makes his return and is warmly welcomed into the fold. And he doesn’t come empty-handed. He introduces the group to a device - one that allows them to swap bodies. It’s a familiar plot device but with a twist: instead of just two people, this time there are eight which ups the ante and the possibilities for chaos.

Forbes neglects to mention the device’s full effects beforehand, so the group is caught off guard when they realise what’s happening. But curiosity (and a little alcohol) wins out, and they agree to play a game where participants are eliminated if their true identity is discovered or if a guess goes wrong. Sounds like fun, right? Well, it is for a while as the group discover the liberating effect of being someone else for a while but beneath the surface, old tensions simmer, revealing a history secrets and lies, hitherto undisclosed. As the game spirals out of control, its flaws become obvious, resulting in shocking consequences that leave the group scrambling for survival. 

Shifting Identities

The film invests time in character development, though with eight personalities to juggle, some feel more fleshed out than others. The actors deliver convincing performances as their original selves, though some don’t quite capture the mannerisms of their new identities, making it difficult to track who’s inhabiting whom. Superb editing makes creative use of split-screen techniques reminding the audience who’s who at key moments, though even with these visual cues, it can still be a bit of a mental workout to follow the shifting identities or eight characters. 

It's What's Inside looks great with the early scenes bathed a rich vintage colour palette that oozes sophistication while sequences for the interactions between the body-swapped characters take on a contrasting duo-tone aesthetic for an unsettling, arty look. The structure of the device itself, with it's retro jack sockets and lever switches adds a steampunk look for the modern age.

Desperate Decisions

By the third act, suspicion reaches breaking point eroding trust and ramping up the tension as hidden motives come to light. Paranoia takes hold and survival depends on characters outwitting one another. With desperation fuelling their choices, the unfolding chaos turns into something akin to a high-octane Knives Out, reimagined for Gen Z.

It’s What’s Inside keeps you guessing with a steady stream of clever twists, all building toward a satisfying payoff. While its 1.43 runtime feels a little too long, Greg Jardin's sharp direction, stylish visuals, and constant tension make for a thrilling ride. A fresh, modern take on a classic concept, it delivers intrigue, chaos, and plenty of surprises, making it well worth a watch.

4/5

Shelby: Brittany O'Grady                               Brooke: Reina Hardesty            
Cyrus: James Morosini                                  Dennis: Gavin Leatherwood
Reuben: Devon Terrell                                   Director: Greg Jardin    
Nikki: Alycia Debnam-Carey                          Writer: Greg Jardin 
Maya: Nina Bloomgarden                               Released: 2024
Forbes: David W. Thompson  

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