The feature film directorial debut for Bishal Dutta “It Lives Inside” screened at the Fantasia Film Festival 2023. In the same genre box as many titles in this area like Headcount, It Follows and Wretched, It Lives Inside takes a more unconventional route and engages in a coming-of-age savvy spiritual narrative. Some of my favorite films with a similar ethos that includes themes of friendship, forgiveness, and folkloric traditions are Tumbbad, Kriya, and The Soul Collector.

In a world where conformity reigns supreme, Samidha (played by the talented Megan Suri from Never Have I Ever) embarks on a turbulent journey to find her place as an Indian-American teenager. Unraveling the complexities of her dual identity, she leans heavily into the age-old struggle of fitting in while preserving her cultural heritage. In the spine-chilling tale of “It Lives Inside,” the embodiment of pure malevolence takes center stage, unleashing a sinister force held captive by any vessel it can be contained in.

Screenrant has more to say about “It Lives Inside in their review,” Read that here.

Multiculturalism in Horror

While it’s nice to come across a horror movie with a PG-13 rating, I must admit, I always wish stories like this could come in two versions. The one that plays to the younger audience and doesn’t delve too far into many areas as it could and one that, instead, does. It Lives Inside is full of gratuitous jump scares and as well as an ominous atmosphere.

It’s easy to imagine the goriness of a particular scene, but as an avid horror fan, sometimes I just want to see how it all went down. Plenty was held back to appease the nature of the rating. Whether this is a good thing is up to the individual, suffice it to say, the included imagery has enough bite to frighten those who don’t watch many scary movies.

“It Lives Inside comes complete with a malevolent demon but also delves into the depths of assimilation struggles. Samidha learns the hard way that demons, both literal and metaphorical are real. The inclusion of Hindu supernaturalism is a nice change of pace, however, doesn’t deviate from the usual formulaic nature of other movies with similar narratives.

It Lives Inside is a supernatural horror film that delves into the depths of cultural representation. Despite its initial promise, the movie, unfortunately, falls prey to the predictable tropes commonly found in the genre. The terrifying creature’s insatiable hunger, which initially hints at imminent danger for its hapless victims, turns out to be conveniently utilized sparingly. As the story progresses towards the harrowing climax, any real sense of tension or stakes seems to dissipate.

It Lives Inside 2023

This statement highlights the mixed elements found in this particular film. While it features some effectively crafted off-screen kill scenes, the majority of the film is dedicated to lengthy explanations that may not contribute significantly to advancing the plot. Despite the potential for anticipation and excitement through these moments, they ultimately do not add substantial value to the overall narrative.

Cliche Worms Its Way In

Whether you survive the onslaught of clichés and find solace in In It Lives Insides’ Hindu-infused narrative will depend on your love for this particular storyline. Predictability stops this title from being a truly original horror experience but it is still worthy of a one-time-watch. Produced and distributed by Neon Entertainment.

It Lives Inside Trailer 2023

Does this title sound good to you? Watch the film’s trailer below and decide for yourself.

It Lives Inside is rated

3 feed the demon in you out of 5

Mother of Movies score