As a seasoned viewer of countless horror movies and a firm believer in justice, I find myself deeply divided by the predicament of Cyrus in “It’s What’s Inside.” From my perspective, he seems to be a character caught in a web of his own making, entangled in a love triangle that’s as complex as it is confusing.
Caution: If you haven’t seen ‘It’s What’s Inside’ yet, which is set to debut on Netflix’s 2024 schedule, there are potential spoilers ahead, so tread carefully!
This year’s movie lineup includes only one film that offers viewers a complete runtime to explore the advantages and disadvantages of exchanging identities with a friend – or persona, spirit, or anything else that seems fitting – don’t miss out on Greg Jardin’s body-swapping horror comedy, “It’s What’s Inside,” one of Netflix’s wildest original productions yet. Mostly entertaining and thought-provoking, it has the potential to rank among Netflix’s top horror movies, with its narrative largely revolving around a questionable technological device and a group of individuals whose true intentions are questionable.
Throughout most of its duration, I enjoyed the thrilling experience of guessing the unfolding events while watching these characters engage in a life-threatening deduction game. The filmmakers skillfully employed camera techniques and color palettes to minimize confusion. Following the heart-stopping finale’s unexpected fade to black, there was a moment of astonishment at Jardin’s audacity in leaving both audience and characters hanging. However, the story-shattering Coda sequence ultimately undermined the overall impact. (Comparable to the suspenseful film Talk to Me, but set in a sci-fi universe rather than haunted by ghosts.)
Initially, What’s Inside asked its loyal audience to go along with numerous puzzling concepts and character decisions, all while maintaining the intricacies of the relationships and backstories. It then surprised with a twist I genuinely found brilliant, and provided resolutions for various storylines. However, even before the credits stopped rolling, I found myself questioning how things were resolved. Here are some points I’d like to discuss.
Beatrice’s Revenge Plot Doesn’t Make That Much Sense To Me
Certainly, it’s clear why Beatrice, portrayed by Madison Davenport, might harbor lingering anger and resentment due to the wild parties that resulted in her brother’s expulsion and her own institutionalization for mental health issues. However, I find myself questioning the appropriateness of the punishments given the lengthy time span (a decade) between that fateful party and the storyline depicted in the film.
It appears that Beatrice doesn’t care about her brother Forbes (David Thompson) at all. Although their relationship isn’t explicitly shown, Forbes seems to have been caring towards her and even brought her to the party. However, when he showed her his device, she quickly took it for revenge and left him in her old form without a second thought. This comes across as quite harsh.
Additionally, I found it perplexing how Beatrice-portraying-Forbes responded to Dennis’ (Gavin Leatherwood) apology. In this apology, he admitted that both he and Reuben had provided the dean with information leading to Forbes’ expulsion. Initially, it appeared as though Forbes was unaware of this information, but later it became clear that Beatrice was privy to it. However, if she didn’t know all the details, then was her entire plot for revenge merely a response to Dennis for getting her drunk that night?
If it’s true that she wasn’t aware Reuben (Devon Terrell) was part of it, which could be possible, then I can’t understand why that fresh information would make any difference for her. In truth, what I required was a clear, formal statement directly from Beatrice about the mission, rather than all the indirect information we have received so far.
Cyrus Doesn’t Deserve Jailtime, And Shelby Isn’t Exactly A Hero Here
In the story of this film, Cyrus, portrayed by James Morosini from “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” is not a heroic character, but he’s also not deserving of the severe punishments typically associated with criminal actions. His initial mistake lies in maintaining a relationship with Shelby (Brittany O’Grady) without being fully committed, neglecting to express physical affection towards her, and hiding his deep-seated attraction for Alycia Debnam-Carey’s popular influencer Nikki.
The most unusual transgression, if we may put it this way, lies in the act of exploiting Reuben’s form for intimate encounters with Maya (who was inhabited by Nina Bloomgarden, in Nikki’s body), while simultaneously deceiving others into believing he was Forbes, when in reality he was Beatrice. This action, to be honest, raises a myriad of questions and worries about consent. However, is it severe enough for imprisonment when there’s no evidence linking him to the deaths related to Reuben and Maya’s sexual activities?
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From beyond the prison’s glass pane, we find Shelby, whose ambition to permanently seize Nikki’s body is an act that many might find unforgivable, even surpassing anything Cyrus has done. Remarkably, Shelby seems to be the only character who underwent significant development throughout the story, though this transformation wasn’t entirely positive. However, it leaves me puzzled as to why she is portrayed as the triumphant heroine in her final encounter with her former partner.
Even though she was mistreated and perhaps deceived, it doesn’t make it right for her to keep Cyrus imprisoned when it’s clear he wasn’t involved in anyone’s death. Instead, it seems appropriate that she might face some consequences herself, like being charged for any lies she may have told to ensure his continued incarceration.
Besides her, there are other individuals who could testify credibly to ensure Cyrus stays behind bars. Despite Dennis’ dislike for him and Maya possibly losing trust due to their kissing incident, it’s not fair that this should prevent them from playing a role in damaging Cyrus’ life.
All Those Wedding Guests Probably Shouldn’t Be Milling About At A Presumed Murder Scene
Eventually, Beatrice placed Nikki within Reuben’s physical form, and she took off, leaving behind what appears to be a bewildered and dejected ex-groom. What was intended to be Sophia’s wedding day unfolded into a blend of romantic sorrow and actual turmoil, as the venue for the vows now served as a crime scene. One might wonder why so many people are still present on the property, and why Sophia already appeared to have her hair styled?
As the police arrived at the Coda just before dawn, it’s hard to believe it wasn’t still quite early in the morning. Given this timing, one might wonder if no one contacted anyone from Reuben’s family regarding the murders that occurred there. Furthermore, it seems unusual that no one informed Sophia about the canceled wedding or reached out to any of the other attendees who had gathered.
Although the criticism about the wedding guests might seem minor, I strongly support the first two points as valid criticisms for a movie that was both entertaining and intellectually stimulating. I must admit, I didn’t necessarily connect with or enjoy any of the characters, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching them navigate their predicament.
Right now, you can stream “What’s Inside” on Netflix, keeping your fingers crossed for news about a potential sequel in the future.
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2024-10-10 02:37