**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**
“There is a dark thing that feeds on those feelings…”
It Lives Inside released in theaters on September 22nd 2023. The supernatural horror film stars Megan Suri, Neeru Bajwa, Mohana Krishnan, Betty Gabriel, and Gage Marsh. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.
Sam rejects her culture to fit in at school, but when a mythological demonic spirit targets her former best friend, she must learn to accept who she is and where she comes from in order to defeat it.
Here is the trailer:
It Lives Inside is engrossing from start to finish, exploring an intriguing mystery deep rooted in Hindu lore with some spine-tingling moments along the way. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…
The Pros:
Creepy and unsettling…
I thought that this film successfully built up terror in a very tangible way. It didn’t rely on jump scares or gimmicks. Rather, it created this frightening world and continued to expand on it with effective uses of light and darkness, instilling a real sense of fear in its characters and its audience.
I’ll definitely be having quite a few endless nightmares thanks to this film and I mean that as a compliment! There were a number of times I was on the edge of my seat with dread, watching the terror unfold.
A compelling mystery.
I really loved the mystery and story surrounding this film. Sure, it was creepy as hell, but it also really explored some interesting aspects of Hindu mythology, creating a layered mystery that held my full attention. I loved the tie ins to culture, family, and ancestry here and there were even a few moments that reminded me of Charmed in a way, which had me cheering for these characters all the way!
I really loved Sam as a character and thought she was extremely easy to root for. I also liked all of the supporting characters, which is rare in films like these…especially when you know that everyone is not going to make it.
The Cons:
Plays it safe in some aspects.
I really liked this film, but I think it needed to go one step further to truly immerse us into this terrifying world. It did a great job setting it up, but perhaps it needed a R rating to achieve perfection.
Don’t get me wrong, I was still completely terrified, but I think this film could have been a horror masterpiece if it would have gone a little bit more over the edge.
There also wasn’t too much buzz around this movie. I hope that people go to the theater to see it because it is a worthy entry to horror.
So am I in or out?
I’m in!!!
An unsettling and engrossing watch with a unique mystery at its core.
One of my favorite horror films of the year!
I was so pleasantly surprised by this one. I thoroughly enjoyed my watch and I hope that everyone gives this a chance because it really has a lot going for it.
I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on It Lives Inside in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!
Best,
Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl
DON’T TAKE THE JOB…
It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.
My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!
Girl Number Thirteen is available here!
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