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It's What's Inside

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It's What's Inside
Release poster
Directed byGreg Jardin
Written byGreg Jardin
Produced by
  • William Rosenfeld
  • Kate Andrews
  • Jason Baum
  • Raúl Domingo
Starring
CinematographyKevin Fletcher
Edited byGreg Jardin
Music byAndrew Hewitt
Production
company
Such
Distributed byNetflix
Release dates
  • January 19, 2024 (2024-01-19) (Sundance)
  • October 4, 2024 (2024-10-04) (Netflix)
Running time
103 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.5 million[2]

It's What's Inside is a 2024 American science fiction comedy horror mystery film[3][4][5] written and directed by Greg Jardin. Produced independently, it is Jardin's feature film debut, and stars Brittany O'Grady, James Morosini, Gavin Leatherwood, Nina Bloomgarden, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Reina Hardesty, Devon Terrell, David Thompson, and Madison Davenport as a group of college friends who reunite for a party eight years after they were last together, only for the night to spin increasingly out of control after one of them offers to play a game involving body swaps.

The film had its world premiere in the Midnight section of the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2024, and was released worldwide on Netflix on October 4, 2024. It received positive reviews, with praise going to its "clever" and "fun" body swapping-concept, style, and performances, although some found the writing overly convoluted or lacking substance.

Plot

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Couple Shelby and Cyrus and their friends Reuben, Dennis, Nikki, Brooke, and Maya gather at Reuben's family home for a party before Reuben's wedding. Also due to attend is their mutual friend Forbes, whom they have not seen since a party at college for which Forbes got expelled for bringing his high school student sister Beatrice. Beatrice, obsessed with Dennis, who was dating Nikki, was admitted to a mental facility.

Forbes arrives at the party, carrying a suitcase. Inside the case is a device that allows them to swap bodies with one another. Forbes explains that he and his colleagues would use it to play a game where they have to guess who is in their bodies. After doing a short demonstration on the group, they all eventually agree to participate, taking Polaroid photos for identification.

When round 1 begins, the group incorrectly guesses that Cyrus is in Dennis' body. To Cyrus' (who is actually in Reuben's body) surprise, Forbes, who is the one in Dennis' body, plays along with the lie, pretending to be Cyrus. Deciding to play along himself, Cyrus encounters Maya who is in Nikki's body, and the two kiss.

Unnerved by Forbes' lie, Cyrus declines to take part in round 2 but relents after the initially timid Shelby eagerly agrees to take part. Forbes explains this will be the last round before the machine takes 24 hours to recharge. When the round begins, Shelby swaps into Nikki's body and is quickly enamored by her good looks and successful social media career. Cyrus, who is in Forbes' body, panics and demands they end the game. As the group gathers in the house to switch back, the house's rooftop balcony collapses, and Reuben in Dennis' body and Brooke in Maya's body, who were up there having sex, fall to their deaths.

Arguing over what to do, Forbes refuses to let the group call the police and let the device go into their custody. Dennis, furious at the suggestion he has to swap into Reuben's body, argues with Cyrus and reveals Cyrus only settled for Shelby as he could not date Nikki. Dennis calls the police, claiming that Cyrus has killed Dennis and Maya. Forbes attempts to flee with the device but is subdued by Nikki. Shelby refuses to swap back and leave Nikki's body.

Cyrus tries to make amends with Shelby, but Maya tells Shelby that Cyrus had kissed her during the first round of the game while he was pretending to be Forbes and she was in Nikki's body. Forbes awakens, and Nikki tries to convince him to make the swap. Shelby appears, threatening to ruin Nikki's career with a damaging video. Shelby proposes that if Cyrus wants Nikki then she can stay in Nikki's body, and he can go into Reuben's body, while Dennis, in Cyrus' body, takes the fall for the deaths. Nikki allies with Forbes to swap back into their original bodies, and Nikki makes Shelby have an allergic reaction to peanut butter, refusing to give over the EpiPen unless Forbes checks the wiring. Dennis discovers money from his trust fund has been transferred into an offshore account and accuses Cyrus. The police enter the house as the group has set off the device.

The next day, Beatrice arrives at the house to discover the wedding has been called off. Seeing Dennis in Forbes' body, she reveals that she is the real Forbes, and that Beatrice had swapped bodies with him to enact revenge on Dennis and Nikki. In the aftermath, Maya is in Brooke's body, Shelby and an imprisoned Cyrus have returned to their bodies, Nikki is in Reuben's body, while Beatrice, now in Nikki's body, escapes with Dennis' money and the device.

Cast

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Production

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In November 2022, Deadline Hollywood reported that the independent film completed production, after filming for 18 days in Portland, Oregon.[7] Greg Jardin directed and wrote the screenplay. Brittany O'Grady, James Morosini, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Devon Terrell, Gavin Leatherwood, Reina Hardesty, Nina Bloomgarden, David Thompson, and Madison Davenport round out the cast.[8][6] The film is a co-production between Such Content, Edith Productions, and Boldly Go Productions. It was produced by William Rosenfeld, Kate Andrews, Jason Baum, and Raùl Domingo. Colman Domingo and Robert Kapp were the two lead executive producers.[9] Andrew Hewitt composed the score for the film.[10]

Release

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It's What's Inside had its world premiere in the Midnight section at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2024.[11][1] Shortly after, Netflix acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film for $17 million in the largest deal made at that edition of the festival.[9] It also screened at South by Southwest on March 15, 2024.[12][13] The film was released on Netflix on October 4, 2024.[14]

Reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 79% of 77 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "Cleverly constructed and leaping off the screen with stylistic verve, It's What's Inside centers around a party from hell that audiences can enjoy from a safe remove."[15] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 57 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[16]

John Nugent of Empire called It's What's Inside "a fun and stylish rethink of body-swap movies". He stated that "Jardin's emphasis on style and verve can feel excessive at times, but for this particular story it doesn't actually seem out of place. Its excess is the animating engine of the film: a story about the superficiality of the modern world, and the masks we put on. While it’s admittedly not always easy keeping track of who is wearing which body-swapped mask — Jardin sometimes gives us a stylized, red-lit glimpse behind the curtain of who’s who — it is an undeniably compelling, frequently surprising, deeply trippy trip."[17]

In a positive review, Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post called the film "smart sci-fi that keeps you guessing", stating: "Jardin’s concept is a devilishly clever one. The millennial generation has grown up obsessed with how they are perceived — online and in-person — and adopting totally new faces with anonymity unleashes their inner animals. [...] If only his satire included more memorable characters. Whereas the similarly eerie millennial send-up “Search Party” took vicious aim at recognizable tropes, this pack makes an impression as a tight ensemble rather than as compelling individuals. This is partly why when one reveler ends up in the body of another, it can be confusing to keep track of who’s who at any given time. Perhaps Jardin means for the viewer to be as mixed up as the participants, but the tension went slack whenever I had to piece a complex puzzle together." He rated the film two and a half stars out of four.[18]

In a mixed review Ronak Kotecha of The Times of India stated that "The film’s biggest flaw is that it attempts to juggle two overdone concepts—body swapping and the gathering of old friends in a single location—without offering anything new or compelling. Ironically, the story’s theme of revealing one’s true self through the swapping process feels underexplored. It veers between being overly simplistic and needlessly chaotic, often sidelining the supporting characters to focus more on the central couple, leaving the rest of the ensemble cast feeling underutilized." He however praised the production values and performances, but felt that "The potential for a more engaging story [is] overshadowed by a lack of depth and consistency in the character arcs."l before they arrive. The film leaves a mixed impression—ambitious but lacking the execution needed to truly stand out in its genre.[19]

Accolades

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Award Date of ceremony Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Critics Choice Awards January 12, 2025 Best Movie Made for Television It's What's Inside Pending [20]

Notes

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  1. ^ All character names and descriptors in this list is sourced by Variety:[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "It's What's Inside". Sundance Film Festival. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Davids, Brian (October 4, 2024). "How 'It's What's Inside' Filmmaker Greg Jardin Secured a $17 Million Bag From Netflix at Sundance". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  3. ^ Witherspoon, Patrice (January 24, 2024). "It's What's Inside Review: Savvy Sci-Fi Horror Mystery Is Cleverly Mind-Bending". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  4. ^ Searles, Jourdain (January 26, 2024). "'It's What's Inside' Review: Instagram Beauty Standards Are the Real Villain of This Breakout Sundance Horror Hit". IndieWire. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  5. ^ McIndoe, Ross (September 29, 2024). "'It's What's Inside' Review: Greg Jardin's Maximalist Black Comedy". Slant Magazine. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Lodge, Guy (January 21, 2024). "It's What's Inside Review: Roleplay Games Spiral Out of Control in an Increasingly Hysterical Horror Comedy". Variety. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  7. ^ Earl, William (October 5, 2024). "'It's What's Inside' Team Breaks Down Selling Their Low Budget Thriller to Netflix for $17 Million, Reveals a Wild Alternate Ending and Sequel Potential". Variety. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  8. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (November 22, 2022). "'White Lotus' Actress Brittany O'Grady & 'Fear The Walking Dead' Star Alycia Debnam-Carey Among Cast For Sci-Fi Thriller 'It's What's Inside' From Colman Domingo's Edith Productions". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 22, 2024). "Netflix Lands Sundance Title 'It's What's Inside;' $17M For Worldwide Rights Sets Fest High Bar". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 5, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  10. ^ "Andrew Hewitt Scoring Greg Jardin's 'It's What's Inside'". Film Music Reporter. January 1, 2024. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  11. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 6, 2023). "Sundance Unveils Packed 2024 Lineup That Includes A.I., Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart, Satan, Devo & Steven Yeun". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 11, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  12. ^ Complex, Valerie (January 10, 2024). "SXSW Lineup Sets 'The Fall Guy', '3 Body Problem' Among Fest's 2024 World Premieres As First Titles Revealed". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  13. ^ "It's What's Inside". South by Southwest. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  14. ^ Romero, Ariana (August 22, 2024). "It's What's Inside: Get a Sneak Peek Inside the Genre-Bending Thriller". Netflix. Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  15. ^ "It's What's Inside". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 31, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  16. ^ "It's What's Inside". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  17. ^ Nugent, John (October 8, 2024). "It's What's Inside Review". Empire. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  18. ^ Oleksinski, Johnny (October 15, 2024). "'It's What's Inside' review: Hot Netflix movie is smart sci-fi that keeps you guessing". New York Post. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  19. ^ Kotecha, Ronak (October 4, 2024). "It's What's Inside Review : This mind-bending body-swapping thriller struggles to find its thrill". The Times of India. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  20. ^ Pond, Steve (December 5, 2024). "'Shogun' Leads Critics Choice TV Nominations". TheWrap. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024.
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