Synopsis
It’s What’s Inside is a psychological horror-thriller with science fiction elements, written and directed by Greg Jardin. The film captures a strange and surreal reunion of a college friends’ group gathering after eight years, triggered by a pre-wedding celebration. The reunion is set in a beautiful and isolated mansion, which serves as a luxurious prison and is the perfect backdrop for the gathering that is set to shift from a nostalgic peaceful reunion to a psychological horror.
Reuben, the soon to be groom and one of the group’s main characters, is the one hosting the pre-wedding gathering together with his fiancée. He invited close friends from the group which include: Shelby, Cyrus, Nikki, Dennis, Brooke and Maya. The group’s blend is complicated with unspoken romances, time, past wounds, betrayals, and the simple flow of time. The group was trying to enjoy the gathering but Forbes, a friend that was once disgraced, shows up uninvited creating the main source of tension and serving as a boiling point for the gathering. He brings with him a mysterious suitcase, a troubling past, and a far troubling agenda.
The suitcase contains an unusual gadget that can trade the minds of two people. It is treated as a game in the beginning, with everyone taking turns to live and inhabit the bodies of the rest. What starts off as a simple and enjoyable activity soon turns into uncontrollable pandemonium. The paranoia, fear, and trauma as a result of long buried secrets and true intentions coming into light is a byproduct of the initial novelty of being in someone else’s body.
People start to break the circle of “body swap game” and the boundaries, both physical and emotional start to disintegrate. They begin to engage with different people while in different bodies, sentiments go places they never intended to while long-held grudges arise. The crucial turning point is marked by two deaths during one of the swaps. The group as a whole starts to fall apart as new alliances get formed and wards of others and at times, get trapped in someone else’s body.
The shocking climax of the film exposes the truth about “Forbes” not being who he claimed to be. In fact, he is Beatrice, his sister, who was responsible for a traumatic event in their group’s past. Beatrice orchestrated the entire scenario, using the device to manipulate identities and take revenge for what she viewed as past injustices. The film’s climax is when she escapes in the form of one of the group members, leaving behind shattered lives, distorted identities, and guilt that is never resolved.
Cast and Characters
Brittany O’Grady as Shelby – Shelby is a woman dealing with self-worth and envy issues. Her relationship with her boyfriend, Cyrus, is strained and very complicated. She makes decisions that drive much of the drama, as she tries to escape her inadequacies by trying to take on the form of another person.
James Morosini as Cyrus – He is Shelby’s boyfriend and is deeply insecure. In contrast to Shelby, he is insecure and quietly manipulative. Cyrus is empathetic and deeply affected by the process of body switching, adding a volatile layer to the group’s chemistry.
- Alycia Debnam-Carey as Nikki*- Nikki is a glamorous social media influencer and one of the main characters who swaps bodies. She is envied by a lot of people in the group, and as the body-swapping begins, she is unable to escape being a victim of other people’s manipulations.
Devon Terrell as Reuben: “The groom-to-be, appears stable and grounded as a person. Reuben’s physique becomes a target for the ambitions of others seeking status or some kind of redemption.”
Gavin Leatherwood as Dennis: “A mischievous trust-fund type with underlying emotional damage. Dennis undergoes quite an important transformation as the foul play unfolds and at some point, he becomes the fall guy for the murders.”
Reina Hardesty as Brooke: “More of an intuitive artist, she possesses some conflict resolution skills. However, she gets caught in the tempest brought about by other people.”
Nina Bloomgarden as Maya: “More of an empath, Maya is sensitive and observant, and in the process of mind games, she unwittingly becomes a participant.”
David Thompson as Forbes: “To start with, he appears as an outcast of the group with some history, but he is actually revealed as Beatrice, the one who orchestrated the night’s collapse into insanity.”
Madison Davenport as Beatrice: “The real focus of evil in the tale. Disguised as her brother, she employs the mechanism of self-destruction on the group and then proceeds to nonchalantly slip out in another person’s body, therefore disappearing without consequence.”
Crew and Production
Writer & Director: Greg Jardin – Jardin interlaces suspense, dark humor, and moral complexities into a singular story with this film, his debut feature. His fast pace editing and visual storytelling is a mark from his stylized short films.
Cinematography: Kevin Fletcher – The camera work focuses on the film’s central theme of psychological disorientation through artistic lighting and framing suggesting distortion and instability.
Score: Andrew Hewitt – The soundtrack masterfully evokes a broad spectrum of emotions, at times hauntingly while of others in a playfully deceptive manner. Hewitt’s work enhances the film’s chaotic atmosphere while deepening the emotional impact and serving the genre-blending plot.
Production Design – The film’s setting of an opulent, but secluded mansion symbolizes the characters’ delusions. The rich, lavish interiors stand in stark contrast to the characters’ crumbling sanity.
Critical Reception
It’s What’s Inside received its premiere to a mix of strong criticism and praise, with an abundance of elogies and harsh critiques countering one another on originality, visual innovation, and genre across science fiction and psychological horror. The critics enjoyed the approach taken in the body swap narrative and were able to appreciate the reinterpretation of emotional disconnect and self deception, even if they thought the concept was well, overdone.
Audiences were especially captivated by the twist showcasing the true identity of Beatrice. With the revelation, earlier discussions regarding revenge, trauma, and identity shifted. Some described the movie as “the perfect Netflix thriller”- neat, frantic, and elegant.
Not all reactions were positive, however. A few critics argued that the film’s final act, while twist-laden, offered little in the realm of character development or emotional closure. A few missing character arcs and unresolved subplots due to the second half’s speed were further worsened by the presence of shallow characters. On another note, the film’s inability to settle into one genre and its constant jumps between horror, sci-fi, and dark comedy were at times disorienting, though, some viewers appreciated those elements.
Even with these critiques, the ensemble cast received acclaim for their performances. A majority of the cast performed admirably in the role of mimicking body-swapped characters as they were required to imitate each other’s mannerisms to a degree.
It’s What’s Inside – A Deeply Psychological Thriller
The film’s genre trends suggest a borderless, chaotic plot that pushes viewers to reevaluate their perception of self, morality, and unresolved emotional trauma. Revolving around the exchange of bodies and consciousness, the film digs into deeper existential puzzles. Who are we, fashioning an elaborate façade, as humans? When does the need to “run away” from ourselves swing past loyalty, ethics, and even friendship?
Director Greg Jardin has succeeded in the near impossible, creating a world where each character is a potential enemy and no identity can be trusted. The stunning visuals packed with original, engaging, if sometimes a bit conflicted plot keeps viewers hooked from the very start.
It’s What’s Inside is sure to have fans of psychological thrillers, ensemble mysteries, and speculative fiction buzzing. This compact but powerful film is hard to look away from. Even though the ambiguous ending and morally flexible characters may not resonate with most, the film remains a part of examining contemporary thrillers.
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