It's What's Inside - Review

The body swap genre is something that has suddenly re-emerged as a thriving and inventive concept in recent years. From the popular blockbuster reboot of Jumanji, Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once or even Get Out. The idea of swapping bodies has been something creatively used to explore self, discovery and a bunch of other ideas, none so more than Netflix’s It’s What’s Inside, a body swap horror with a dark game night aspect.

The film follows Shelby and Cyrus, a couple in their 20s on their way to a friend’s pre-wedding meetup. Their relationship is on a downward spiral, struggling in the bedroom, Cyrus suggests roleplay as a way of reinvigorating their relationship. However, they are unsuccessful and head to this party with dampened spirits, seeing on TikTok and Instagram the successful lives their friends lead, in a scene reminiscent of 2017’s Ingrid Goes West, a satire on the disturbing nature of the doomscrolling generation. As they head to their friend, Reuben’s home, there is a quietly sinister and awry tone, as they go into philosophical debates on their lives and the facades people put up. Particularly shown with a succinct metaphor of an optical illusion with different shades revealing different images. As the night continues, their most mysterious friend Forbes suddenly shows up with a briefcase and the concept of a new game he’s working on – a game with the ability to swap bodies, and the journey spirals from there.

Whilst the body swap genre feels tired and dated, It’s What’s Inside brings an intense life to the film. Its fun game night structure is a joy to watch, allowing you to join in and guess who is in whose bodies. Or at other times seeing what other people will do when they think they are with someone who they are not. Having multiple people swap also provides the added factor of the characters not being 100% sure who they are talking to, and it is made clear early on that not everyone is willing to tell the truth. However, unfortunately, the film runs out of steam towards the end in a confused and botched final act that does not give the cathartic resolution that the narrative needs to round itself out.

What is so striking about this film is its visceral, intense and in-your-face style. It is the sort of look often missing from the big screen. It is not super subtle but its maximalist style keeps up with the fast-paced, ferocious tone that is bound to keep even the shortest attention-spanned Gen-Zer engaged in what is an at times purposefully disorientating style. Whilst there aren’t any particular shots that stand out, it is doing something quite interesting with colour, especially the overwhelming uses of red, green and blue.

Inherently there are also a lot of ideas that the film is playing with. When the swap happens, what gets transferred over, what are the characters experiencing and do they change what they do because of it. There is a lot of experimentation from the characters in their new bodies or vessels, and whilst these ideas are repetitive, they nevertheless feel refreshing and fun, bringing up scenarios that will keep you asking questions and guessing what will happen next.

Unfortunately, the film is hampered by a really poor final act. An almost climactic plot point occurs around two-thirds of the way through the film, however, whilst this should propel the film forward into an ending that is thrilling, tense and enthralling, it is as if the film doesn’t know how to resolve it. An ending that doesn’t have a strong set of parameters for the consequences that it presents and whilst the plot point is the most intriguing avenue, it feels poorly thought through, taking you out of the film – particularly problematic on Netflix where the boundaries of distraction are that more enticing.

Nevertheless, It’s What’s Inside is a fun watch that takes a tired premise and does wonders with it. It is the perfect film for Netflix and watching with a group of friends, despite its unfulfilling ending.