A group of college friends reunite before a wedding and decide to play a game. This, however, isn’t a normal game. This game comes in a very special briefcase. A briefcase brought by a member of the group the rest haven’t seen in almost a decade. And this game is about to seriously mess everything up.
That’s the setup for It’s What Inside, a new sci-fi thriller coming to Netflix October 4. Written and directed by Greg Jardin, it’s a highly original, ultra-creepy story that’ll make your mind do gymnastics in the best possible way, filmed and edited with energy and humor.
It’s What’s Inside begins by introducing its seven, then eight, characters who’ll be at the festivities. We first meet Shelby (Brittany O’Grady) and Cyrus (James Morosini), a repressed couple who we follow to boisterous Reuben’s (Devon Terrell) wedding. When they arrive, trust fund baby Dennis (Gavin Leatherwood), goth Brooke (Reina Hardesty), and crunchy Maya (Nina Bloomgarden) are already there along with influencer Nikki (Alycia Debnam-Carey), who we know Cyrus has a crush on. Each person is very distinct and different, which is crucial. It’s also crucial to understand while it feels like the movie is spinning its wheels a bit at the start with all these introductions, it’s being done for a very specific purpose. Jardin wants you to have a good handle on who these characters are before the games, literally, begin.
That happens when nerdy Forbes (David Thompson) arrives. Forbes was an outsider of the group and has been missing in action since college. He explains that in that time, he’s been working on a device he brought with him and he asks if everyone wants to try it out. Which they do.
Okay so, now’s the point in the review where, if you want to go into the movie unspoiled—and in this case, I think it’s highly beneficial— you should do that. It’s What’s Inside is awesome, you already pay for Netflix, so check it out. But if you want to learn more, without any major spoilers of course, let’s continue.
The mystery device Forbes brings to the party is a machine that allows people to switch bodies. Full-on Freaky Friday stuff as consciousness moves from your body, into another, and back. After testing how it works, Forbes suggests the friends randomly switch into each other’s bodies and figure out who is who, like a high-tech game of Werewolf, Mafia, or The Traitors. This is where things get really really interesting.
First of all we, the audience, are in on the game too. Because Jardin spent so much time defining these characters, you can’t help but try to guess who is who yourself. That’s also due in part to everyone’s performances. They may come off a little exaggerated and stereotypical to start, but that allows each actor to fully and easily transform into one another. All of the actors do a phenomenal job morphing into their costars for each round of the game and it’s beyond fun to watch.
Of course, just watching them play a game would be a little boring so certain emotions and complications arise. Being someone else allows the friends to say and do things they’d never say or do and the movie becomes a window into truth, lies, secret desires, and so much more. Then things get taken up a notch. At times all that can be a little hard to follow but Jardin’s script and direction always right the ship. He’s fully aware of who is who, who is lying, and who is not, and if he wants you to be sure too, the movie will make sure you know. Plus, you always have a sense that everything is airtight. Anytime there’s some random detail mentioned or highlighted, you can be sure that it will be important later in the movie.
That story alone, and its fallout, would make It’s What’s Inside worth recommending by themselves. From there though, on top of the tension, mystery, and intrigue, Jardin presents it all through a very kinetic, energetic film filmmaking style. The whole thing feels a bit like a giallo music video, with all manner of evocative colors filling the frame, serving multiple purposes, and some very fun, frantic editing choices that add additional variety and humor to the film.
It’s What’s Inside takes a familiar conceit, turns it on its head, and shakes it for dear life. It’s wildly entertaining, constantly surprising, and hugely rewarding. We can’t wait to watch it again and again. It’s on Netflix October 4.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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