A new comedy horror movie is due to land on Netflix next week. And it certainly sounds like it will be worth a watch (possibly while cowering behind a sofa cushion). Titled It’s What’s Inside, the horror outing has a killer concept and a solid Rotten Tomatoes score of 82%, with critics commending fledgling filmmaker Greg Jardin for blending black comedy and horror thrills in his feature film directorial debut. Centering on a reunion of old friends who are left startled and scared when a surprise guest arrives with a mysterious suitcase, It’s What’s Inside could well make the perfect Halloween treat.
It’s What’s Inside had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival back in January, and Brittany Patrice Witherspoon of Screen Rant awarded the movie a near-perfect 4/5 believing that It’s What’s Inside is destined for cult status.
“A mind-bending horror feature one could easily become obsessed over, It’s What’s Inside is sure to find its cult fan base very quickly.”
Jourdain Searles of indieWire, meanwhile, was quickly enamored with the movie’s use of both horror and comedy to comment on modern issues.
“It’s a loud, colorful, frantic and pitch black horror comedy about identity that mercilessly critiques modern anxiety about desirability and success.”
Critic Perri Nemiroff was equally enamored, calling the movie “wildly clever” and praising the performances and the direction from Greg Jardin.
“A wildly clever concept that soars thanks to next-level acting gymnastics and extremely smart and well executed visual techniques by director Greg Jardin.”
It’s What’s Inside Is Destined for Horror Cult Status
Not everyone loved the horror comedy antics, with David Rooney of THR finding the overzealous editing a mere distraction from a lackluster plot: “All the nervy cutting, the pirouetting pans and off-kilter angles, the dexterous split-screen and the bombardment of eclectic music cues — many of them dropped in with archly emphatic force — can only distract from the lack of depth for so long.” Robert Daniels of RogerEbert.com, meanwhile, felt that It’s What’s Inside did not push the concept far enough, saying, “There are further complications about identity to be mined from this concept, but Jardin doesn’t seem interested in exploring those.”
Thankfully, Guy Lodge of Variety brings us nicely back to the positives, praising the plot and calling the movie “gleamingly shot and spikily cut.”
““It’s What’s Inside” registers as a pretty effective genre calling-card: gleamingly shot and spikily cut, brashly acted by actors accepting of their role as pretty pawns in an elaborate narrative game of strategy.”
Lastly, Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting also expects that It’s What’s Inside will achieve cinematic cult status thanks to its “meticulous visual plotting” and “irreverent comical tone.”
“It’s a twisty puzzle box that rewards through saturated colors, meticulous visual plotting, and an irreverent comical tone. Though prone to tangled knots, Jardin’s ambitious debut will easily earn a devout following.”
Written and directed by Greg Jardin, and counting Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo as an executive producer, It’s What’s Inside stars Brittany O’Grady, James Morosini, Gavin Leatherwood, Nina Bloomgarden, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Reina Hardesty, Devon Terrell, David W. Thompson, and Madison Davenport, and sees a pre-wedding reunion descend into a psychological nightmare for a group of college friends when a surprise guest arrives with a mysterious suitcase.
It’s What’s Inside
is due to be released on Netflix on October 4, 2024.