REVIEW: ‘It’s What’s Inside’ Takes Party Horror To A New Level

It’s What’s Inside, like any good party mystery, warrants as little information as possible for the best experiences possible. Writer-director Greg Jardin uses science fiction as a vehicle for examining relationships and jealousy in a deeply chaotic but well-executed way. In the film, a pre-wedding party descends into an existential nightmare. Suddenly, an estranged friend shows up with a mysterious suitcase and takes a well-known party game to the next level.

From Executive Producer Colman Domingo, It’s What’s Inside stars Brittany O’Grady, James Morosini, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Devon Terrell, Gavin Leatherwood, Reina Hardesty, Nina Bloomgarden, and David Thompson. Set in one location, Rueben’s family home, the night before he marries his fiance, Jardin keeps everything simple.

The machine in the suitcase is simple, the location is simple, and every character you will meet is introduced immediately. Every friendship and romantic coupling is put to the test. The primary narrative force hones in on Shelby and Cyrus. They’ve dated each other for years, but marriage isn’t exactly in the cards, and intimacy is non-existent. How they relate to each other, how they support each other, and ultimately how they lie to each other propel the film forward. Their relationship crafts tension with every subsequent game round.

As accidents happen, tempers flair. A fun game night reignites and outs old flames as it becomes a nightmare. Trust erodes. So, each of the eight friends has a wildly different reaction to the chaos. There’s so much betrayal that they’re swimming in it. It’s What’s Inside is as much about people as it is its sci-fi concept. If anything, the humanity on display in the film and the ways it twists is powerful.

At every turn, Jardin’s script zigs when you think it will zag. It never takes a cheap thrill. Instead, every choice, line of dialogue, and idiosyncrasy sets up the mystery for the audience and the characters in the film. They are playing a game, and the answers are really only clear if you pay close attention.

Jardin has a keen ability to surprise and stir up the conflict without overindulging in twists and revelations. He shows a fantastic level of restraint. It makes the whodunnit of the film exciting. The expert craftsmanship of the film allows the lines between characters and their real identities to flourish. Moreover, this happens even in the middle of comedic overtures. It’s What’s Inside is hilarious and mean in the best ways possible.

In fact, It’s What’s Inside takes a well-explored concept, capitalizes on it, and reinvigorates it. Without revealing too much about the film, the tightness of Jardin’s script and the charisma of the actors is second to none. As the actors begin to change from one character to another, they each have to be believable in their new skin. It pays off every time.

It’s What’s Inside is a fantastic film, a perfect Midnighter, and a new take on a party game all in one. You have to watch it the moment it releases.

It’s What’s Inside screened as a part of the 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival and will be released on Netflix later this year.