It Lives Inside (2023) User Reviews

Decent, but could've been something special

[AfricanBro · 6/10 · 5 September 2023]

The opening scenes were fiendish, giving a tantalizing glimpse of what the movie potentially had in store, which immediately excited me since I didn't know anything at all about the movie. Surprisingly, it didn't take long to dive into the gruesomeness, and the jump scares had a desired effect in the packed theater. The cultural background of the movie made it unique, Indian mythology was a departure from the usual Hollywood horror stuff.

I think the film's great at creating a gripping atmosphere, but it falls slightly short of delivering on it. At its core, it felt like a breath of fresh air, but once it finds its groove, it started following a more formulaic plot, losing some of its originality. Some plot points felt glossed over.

Connection between characters wasn't very strong, I didn't really care for them as much. More focus on Tamira's character at the start would've helped. The ending, while still fine, felt unsatisfactory to me. When i thought of my favorite part of the movie, it was undoubtedly the gripping opening scenes that didn't shy away from the gore. I had hoped for a more intense, slasher-like turn that never materialized. The climax didn't quite meet my expectations. It's a worthwhile first viewing, but I doubt its replay value.

The film doesn't suffer from major flaws but rather minor imperfections. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I believe it had untapped potential. Maybe that's because it's a directorial debut, but for a first effort, it's still quite commendable.

It's got some intriguing ideals...but fell short in some areas.

[saimariejohnson · 6/10 · 23 September 2023]

The idea for this story was really cool - I love the unique demon type and the Hindi lore used within it. It's really unique to see a different pantheon of unknown cultural demonology incorporated into a modern retelling. I particularly enjoyed the idea of the demon swallower element added in for great effect, but it felt like it was a little prematurely laced together in some ways. It gave some foreshadow but then left a lot unsaid. Possibly due to the fact that may make a sequel, but there were a number of questions I had about the plot that weren't quite summarized. Still, a unique story and I'd recommend it to those who are enthused by demonic tales from cultures not typically depicted in mainstream theater films.

Missed the mark

[cutie7 · 5/10 · 17 August 2023]

In my humble opinion, PG-13 rated horror movies should be made illegal. "It Lives Inside" attempted to infuse horror with a cultural identity prism, but unfortunately, its weak and flawed narrative overshadowed this unique angle. The film was a tapestry of clichés, from the predictable jump scares to the tired plot twists that left little room for genuine surprise. While the inclusion of cultural elements was promising, it couldn't salvage the movie from its formulaic approach.

"It Lives Inside" missed the mark by relying heavily on overused horror tropes, detracting from any potential impact it could have had. The attempt to intertwine cultural identity with horror was an interesting concept, but the lackluster execution and reliance on clichés ultimately hindered its potential. In a genre that thrives on innovation and fear, this movie fell short, failing to leave a lasting impression.

Weak. And why PG-13???

[FeastMode · 4/10 · 5 September 2023]

I saw It Lives Inside early as part of Regal's Mystery Movie Monday. I already had it on my watchlist so I was happy with the choice. The outcome though, not so much.

It takes a long while to get going, for the story to progress, and to see anything scary. Even when it does get going, it's fairly underwhelming aside from one scene in the middle. After that scene, I felt mildly positive about the movie. But I found the third act and conclusion to be a huge letdown. And the movie overall feels ordinary within the horror genre.

Part of the reason the horror elements feel weak is the PG-13 rating. This movie should have absolutely been rated R. If they weren't restricted, some of these scenes could have been shocking. They sometimes do a decent job of pushing the limits or creatively showing what they can. But it's not enough and feels like it's holding back.

There are some good elements here. And I can see some people liking this. But it just didn't do it for me. It reminded me of a significantly restrained and much worse version of Smile. Watch that instead.

(1 viewing, early screening Mystery Movie Monday 9/4/2023)

Unleashing the darkness... and the clichés.

[Matt-Canalcon · 6/10 · 8 August 2023]

Right from the opening with its macabre long take, "It Lives Inside" establishes a sense of dread that persists throughout this descent into hell. Competent but derivative, the final result takes us into familiar formulas and a predictable rhythm that prevent us from fully immersing ourselves in the madness.

The direction allows for terrifying imagery and creative camera movements, which are, however, trapped within a poorly woven script. The demonic presence is there, the great strength of this film lies in the grim atmosphere soaked in red and black. Indian customs and Hindu mythology add personality and richness to the film, which is greatly appreciated even if the potential is not fully realized.

There's something to be said about the work on the practical special effects, considering the production budget. Despite a certain lack of originality, the supernatural manifestations follow one another, delivering an allegory about depression and an interesting message about cultural acceptance. A feeling of déjà vu? "It Lives Inside" borrows current themes that appear in several modern horror films and stumbles slightly in execution. Eventually, we fall into a zone of predictability and a trap of clichés that prevents the final work from reaching its full potential.

Also worth noting is the presence of the young lead actress, Megan Suri, who should catch Hollywood's attention after her performance. All in all, it's an intriguing mix of satanic incantations, cultural immersion, and teen horror that should find its audience upon its theatrical (or streaming) release.

An attempt was made!

[SoumikBanerjee1996 · 4/10 · 16 October 2023]

The creators borrowed the idea of "Pishach", a flesh eater tormenter of souls, from the shadowy depths of Hinduism and the associated mythology. Then, they merged it with Westernised horror sensibilities and tried their very best to construct a mixture that could balance out both sides of the spectrum.

Now, I'm sure the intended amalgamation may have looked great on paper, but the potency didn't reflect on the outcome, mainly due to three reasons...

1. Inconsistent screenwriting laced with pacing issues.

2. The over-utilisation of brighter lights and colour scheme, which was antithetical to the conventional setup and staging of horror scenes.

Last but not least,

3. Overstating the presence (and appearance) of the demon in focus, which took away the surprise factor, which does come to be essential in these kinds of features!

I commend the endeavor but not the final product.

You've Seen This Movie Before, Despite What You May Have Heard

[themoviephilespodcast · 6/10 · 23 September 2023]

It Lives Inside is marketed as an Indian horror movie, but it really just swaps out White Christianity for Brown Hinduism.

The movie follows the blueprint of every mid-budget, faith-overcoming-evil "horror" movie you've seen in the past.

The protagonist comes from a solid, religiously faithful family, with one parent being less traditional than the other. She has to face down an ancient demon, and can only do this by re-embracing her culture, with the help of the more traditional parent and a healthy dose of prayer. Along the way, the kid who smokes pot is killed, the liberal parent suffers, and the helpful outsider (that actor who has middling fame from being in a bigger movie) gets brought into the culture.

The performances are all solid, but the movie offers nothing new or notable.

It Lives Inside possesses distinctive elements that make it worth a watch, but the horror scenes may not hit like you hope

[kevin_robbins · 5/10 · 23 September 2023]

I watched It Lives Inside (2023) in theaters last night. The story revolves around Samidha, a young woman who has grown distant from her best friend. Her former friend begins exhibiting strange behavior, appearing unusual and carrying a mysterious jar. It's evident that her life is unraveling. When Samidha confronts her about this, it leads to a confrontation that unleashes something that will profoundly affect their lives forever.

Directed by Bishal Dutta in his directorial debut, this film stars Neeru Bajwa (Jatt & Juliet), Megan Suri (Missing), Mohana Krishnan (I Am Frankie), Betty Gabriel (Get Out), and Vik Sahay (Chuck).

It Lives Inside presents a frustrating viewing experience. The premise and initial setup of the storyline are excellent, offering a unique plot with a creature like no other in horror. Megan Suri and Mohana Krishnan deliver remarkable performances, and Dutta utilizes exceptional cinematography and camera angles to build tension. However, the effectiveness of the horror elements are inconsistent. While the attack scenes and intensity are well-executed, the invisible elements often fell short and left me wanting more. The film's conclusion, along with how they handle the creature, feels somewhat corny and unsatisfying.

In summary, It Lives Inside possesses distinctive elements that make it worth a watch, but the horror scenes may not hit like you hope. I would rate it 4.5/10 but still recommend seeing it once for its unique aspects.

The suspenseful plot is on par with 'The Nun II' from early September, it's just that the scale of the scenes is much smaller.

[noshouse · 6/10 · 26 September 2023]

I'm sorry, but because the release dates are so close, it's natural to make a comparison with 'The Nun II.' In this movie, perhaps due to Bollywood's tradition of producing grand scenes featuring heroic politicians or social realism, this Indian supernatural film, despite having the support of Hollywood teams, focuses too much on traditional legends of Indian immigrants, which confines the overall atmosphere to a smaller group. While Mohana Krishnan's performance does bring out the thrilling aspect of the supernatural, the overall setup and unexpected ambiance can't quite match up to 'The Nun II.' However, because it delves into Indian supernatural elements rooted in Asian folklore, as a Taiwanese viewer, it still gives you the creeps.

Lazy and cheap

[chris_rowe-881-168820 · 2/10 · 23 October 2023]

I was surprised this got a cinema release, it felt like that movie you pick up at supermarkets in the discounted section, whilst watchable, it is both extremely lazy and has massive plot holes and contradictions.

For the majority of the film, it's invisible which personally I think it's because when you do see it, the monster looks pretty terrible. The effects are extremely cheap looking and really take away from the quality. There was one scene that should have been shocking that most of the people in my screening were laughing.

The acting wasn't too bad but there were a lot of questionable character choices and how they kept popping up at locations for no real reason especially with how easy it was to break into condemned houses.

The story has potential, worryingly they teased it's not over but this film in this form should not have a sequel.

What kinda school was it? Can openly just talk to teachers by there first name? They ask for a fair help and you give them endless attitude? Or taking big gulp drinks into class? Weird.

The lead girl was ok until she went from caring to abusive for no real reason in one scene.

It's not completely terrible, it is watchable, but it's just not very good, especially if you're a big fan of horror films.

New fuel for your nightmares

[pinkangel014 · 8/10 · 19 August 2023]

I see many reviews claiming the film is formulaic but as someone with south asian roots, I think that's what I appreciated about it. It has all the elements that people have come to love and want from a horror film BUT with a fresh fear and face of the Americans in it. Was it the most terrifying film? No. But it's a solidly acted, shot, and written story (which you can't always say for a horror movie). At first I wasn't sure how I'd feel about them pulling from Hinduism, but So many horror films pull from Christianity; this was a breathe of fresh air. Overall, I say it's an entertaining watch.

Desi Horror Story Does The Genre Proud

[JoshuaMercott · 7/10 · 15 October 2023]

It was great to see Indian representation in a major horror movie. Sweetening the deal was the fact that the ghost at the heart of this plot was a 'pisasu' or 'malevolent spirit', an entity that has been part of Indian folklore since before anyone can remember.

Aside from all the amazing cultural elements - from Ma Durga and Navratri music, to full-on Hindi dialogues and other desi addons (festivals, religion, food, and style) - "It Lives Inside" also beautifully blended Western elements to tell a story about an Indian-origin family who were experiencing something dark and dangerous The demon in question apparently fed on despair and loneliness, starting with Samidha's (played by Megan Suri) childhood bestie Tamira (played by Mohana Krishnan).

I liked how they made the creature a tangible, and at times invisible, entity which didn't resort to possession but almost-playful malevolence. In this regard, the 'pisasu' resembled a poltergeist or a boogeyman.

To date, there is no solid record of what this thing actually looks like. I guess it takes different forms based on the one who's possessed or targeted. There's also an interesting archeo-phonetic connection between the Indian word 'pisasu' and the ancient Mesopotamian demon-deity Pazuzu. Back to the review... Tamira had the thing 'caged' in a bottle, with ancient Sanskrit writing scrawled on the glass to keep the demon in check. She also fed it raw meat, like one would a carnivorous animal. These sequences were fascinating.

But when an argument between Sam and Tam broke the jar, the creature escaped and hell quite literally broke loose. The 'pisasu' captured Tamira (poetic justice, in a way) and gradually wreaked supernatural havoc in Sam's life after dragging her and Russ (a boy for whom Sam had burgeoning feelings) into a quick spiral of frights and hauntings.

Megan Suri gave a riveting performance. She was portrayed in an admirable way, including the bits where she evoked classic American 'scream queen' sentiments. But instead of being over-the-top, she was as natural as she was engaging.

Her character Samidha found it increasingly difficult to accept the supernatural goings-on in her life. Her final face-off with the creature, followed by her choosing to become the vessel that caged it (and the scenes that came after), did this story justice.

All the other artists did good work in this movie. Special shout-out to Neeru Bajwa who left a memorable impression as Sam's mother Poorna.

Then there was Mohana Krishnan, who gave Tamira a minimal but increasingly impactful presence in the plot.

Also, Jenaya Ross's physical performance as the demonic 'pisasu' in that one scene was the bloody cherry on this horror cake. The creature's general CG design was outstanding, but its practical-effects reveal (in the finale) was relatively poor.

Now, in a lot of ways, "It Lives Inside" bottled a subtextual sliver of a young woman's experience growing up, including puberty, dating, and the general challenge of adapting to a new country and culture.

But this didn't discount the movie's substantial horror tropes. On the contrary, "It Lives Inside" 2023 was rife with frightful moments and dark connotations of the paranormal kind. The team took an ancient Indian folk belief and made it seem as though it belonged in today's ever-expanding horror-genre tales.

The story was only partly fresh but surprisingly simple. It artfully avoided cliché by not pretending to be a completely new thing. I just wish they explored the Durga angle some more, especially those 'slokas' or chants created way back when and designed to shield people from demons. We get to see so little of what another religion other than Catholicism has by way of spiritual protection.

Anyway, in this movie, just when you thought the creature was going to do something, it did something else entirely. Such suspense was spot on. They also partially explored the roots of where this particular demon came from.

Someone better make horror-merch out of Karan Chaudhary's journal, detailing what his family was running from. It was genuinely creepy, illustrations and all. I loved the art-design here.

All in all, "It Lives Inside" proved to be a remarkable horror flick that ticked all the right formulaic boxes. The final shot of the movie hinted at a sequel, so here's hoping it gets greenlit.

Bishal Dutta's direction (his debut, btw) and original screenplay deserves appreciation for weaving just one of India's numerous folk-horror beliefs into a spine-chilling movie worth watching this Halloween, and the Halloweens to come.

Nothing new

[griffithxjohnson · 5/10 · 28 September 2023]

A solid tone that is unique through cultural representation yet it's full of recycled & unoriginal tropes. The screenplay is safe without anything bold or daring. The score & high school setting fits in a fun way.

. .

. A solid tone that is unique through cultural representation yet it's full of recycled & unoriginal tropes. The screenplay is safe without anything bold or daring. The score & high school setting fits in a fun way.

. .

. A solid tone that is unique through cultural representation yet it's full of recycled & unoriginal tropes. The screenplay is safe without anything bold or daring. The score & high school setting fits in a fun way.

Close, but no sitar.

[BA_Harrison · 5/10 · 26 August 2023]

Indian-American teenager Samidha (Megan Suri) wants to fit in with her school friends, but her mother doesn't want her to ignore her Indian roots. While struggling with her cultural identity, Samidha unwittingly unleashes Pishach, a demonic spirit that feeds on humans; in order to defeat the evil that she has released, she must embrace her Indian heritage with the help of her mother.

Strip away the Indian-ness from It Lives Inside and what you have is a rather formulaic story about a demon accidentally released to go on a killing spree. That's not to say that the film isn't enjoyable for what it is, but it feels like so many other movies that it's unlikely to linger in the mind for very long.

The performances are commendable (Suri does a great job in the lead), and technically the film is polished, but the decision to cut away from the scary stuff as soon as it happens diminishes its effectiveness as a horror, as does the reluctance to show us the Pishach (which remains invisible for the bulk of the movie, but is actually pretty creepy when we finally get to see it), and the lack of gore (the kills are remarkably tame).

horror takes a new approach

[lee_eisenberg · 6/10 · 25 September 2023]

A spooky thing tormenting a protagonist is a common theme in horror flicks. What distinguishes Bishal Dutta's "It Lives Inside" is not only a cast consisting mainly of people of Indian descent, but in addressing connections to one's heritage. The main character is a girl uninterested in her ethnic background, but things change for her when she accidentally releases something.

I didn't expect any sort of masterpiece, and the movie isn't one. It doesn't try to be (some scenes were a little silly, in fact). The main source of interest is the issue of the girl's relationship with her culture. It's simply not easy to be fully invested in one's heritage when one grows up in a different setting (this was also the point of the 2000 British movie "East Is East").

Anyway, worth seeing if not the most cerebral movie out there. Probably the only horror flick that you'll see with a significant amount of Hindi spoken.

Megan Suri has appeared as Aneesa on Netflix's "Never Have I Ever".

Demonically Dull and Lifeless

[HudsonFarmer · 1/10 · 5 September 2023]

It Lives Inside is the latest indie horror offering to be unleashed onto horror fans who will ultimately find this to be a sheer disappointment. A intriguing and creepy premise is hindered by awful direction and a lifeless script.

The problem with It Lives Inside is that it borrows heavily from other superior horror flicks and copycats the formula to the point of parody.

All the actors give fine performances with what they are given but with a template that is generic and stale, they are unable to save this and elevate it to classic horror movie status. This movie does not feel like it belongs in the theaters but dropped on Netflix to join the other generic horror films that flood the streamer platforms. Quite frankly this would have been much better in an anthology series then a full length feature.

Tedious and exhausting by the finale, you will want to leave the theater and do something more productive with your time.

Amazing Story, Slow Pace

[marlajoimedia · 6/10 · 24 September 2023]

What a great story highlighting family, tradition, religion, and culture! What a blessing it would have been if they would have told it a little faster. The pacing felt a bit slow. The dialogue is slow in areas and there are moments where it felt like the story was spinning it's wheels.

There are moments where we gain momentum just to slow it down again. It's almost as if the script notes repeatedly said "slowly." "Take your time," was the underlying theme of this film which they certainly did.

I would love to see a sequel with more visual references of Hindu history and Indian culture, especially parts that have been distorted by western culture. Hopefully they make it tighter so the pacing doesn't feel so glacial, leaving us cold.

Forgettable

[aronharde · 5/10 · 22 October 2023]

It Lives Inside had an interesting premise or at least it could have being slightly different from most other Hollywood movies of this kind. But it chooses to stay in its lane and work its way through many well-known horror movie tropes. The movie is sadly rather forgettable and does not stand out a bit. There is a mostly invisible entity following our protagonist killing everybody she comes too close to. In the third act the creature is made visible which I have to say looked pretty cool and I enjoyed those visuals overall. Also I have to give the movie that it has some scary and eerie scenes that were really tension filled. But overall this movie did not manage to convince me to ever watch it again I think. The fact that the movie is PG-13 should have given me a hint that this can't be that great. [5,5/10]

Good for Teenagers

[Tri-State_Skater · 7/10 · 22 September 2023]

It's not the best teen horror film ever, but it's good enough. I'm a millennial in her 30's, but I wanted to get the most of my A-List account so I saw this movie. It's definitely for Gen Z, but I still enjoyed it. The actors were all great.

It feels empty at times due to lack of characters or people interacting, but I think that's on purpose. You can tell the monster is a metaphor for mental illness.

It's about an Indian girl who deals with the struggles of being a minority in this country. I still found relatable moments with her as a white woman though. She's just the everyday American teen, and I can remember feeling like her even if our experiences were different.

Flat, Boring & Dull

[vengeance20 · 2/10 · 18 September 2023]

Just got from seeing this at a Scream Unseen viewing at my local & was surprised to see this come up before the film began as I'd never heard of this one, never mind seen a trailer for it.

The film sees an Indian-American teenager struggling with her cultural identity has a falling out with her former best friend &, in the process, unwittingly releases a demonic entity that grows stronger by feeding on her loneliness.

I found the film to be flat & pretty boring. For one, the story was totally disengaging & it's disjointed, incoherent story telling made for frustrating viewing. The characters themselves were cardboard, hollow & boring too.

The film story was boring in itself & the creature whatever it was felt ripoff like to It Follows & a bit of Insidious? I don't know, just like the story telling & directing, it felt out there & hard to get into & couldn't decide what it wanted to be. The film's characters kept chopping & changing from speaking in their own language to English which was also annoying.

The runtime is too long for such a simple & flat story & concept which feels watered down & lacks impact. It's 1 hour & 34 minutes long (94 minutes), which is ok if the film had a better story, characters we can care about & a story which engages with its audience. The pacing was really bad as the film took a while to get going.

The only good things where the little bits of horror we got & the dark nature in a few areas, but that's all, there's not a lot good to say about the film, the creature reveal which cartoonish, despite having some sinister features. It didn't cut it for me & again couldn't decide what it wanted to be, supernatural or monster.

Overall, it's a dull & lifeless film with little to no redeeming features. It's poorly paced, overly long, has flat hollow characters & a story (like the creature) which can't decide what it wants to be, never mind engage with its audience as it jumps around from scene to scene. The writing, directing & story telling are incoherent as with the films dull & washed out look. The film's a disappointment & could've been better. Give it a watch, but don't expect much from this...

2/10.

Clash of .. cultures

[kosmasp · 9/10 · 1 September 2023]

No pun intended - if you grew up in a country that is not the one your parents where born in - you may understand what the girl has to go through here. At least to some degree - her mother especially trying to guide her ... although of course that alienates her even more.

A few things are not spoken out ... loud, but you can feel her struggle to fit in. Trying to be cool with the ... well cool kids of her school. At first she seems quite rational - her decisions make sense ... as the movie progresses she does make choices that are not as rational ... well not always that is.

That being said, you need people to act a bit differently, otherwise what would be the fun of it, right? And how would they get themselves in situations where they seems helpless .. and without any chance? Well that is for you to see .. there quite a few harrowing scenes in this ... and it really creates quite the atmosphere ... really a good one ... if you let yourself immerse in it!

Indian folk lore horror that is something new with thin writing and direction.

[cruise01 · 6/10 · 25 January 2024]

3 out of 5 stars.

It Lives Inside is a fair supernatural horror film that brings up a story about a demonic Indian entity that feeds on ones soul. And it wont stop until it is kept in a jar or inside something.

The plot was okay. Felt like a Boogeyman concept. The script was thin with the characters. The direction was bland. It did have some creepy moments. And very little amount of scares and thrills. The music score tried to help with the creepy tone. The acting was decent with the cast ensemble. Most of the performances were flat.

It is a horror film with little scares and thrills. It tried being entertaining for what it was.

Just bland

[akshatmahajan · 5/10 · 15 October 2023]

As a horror fan, I was excited to watch this horror flick by a director who was debuting.

For me, the movie was just bland. Nothing was new in it, it was just the same old story which has been told and shown hundreds of time. The screenplay was average as it could have been more tight, the direction was also average but a decent one for a debut director, the performances were just okay as the characters were not that much convincing.

Overall, it was neither a good nor a bad horror movie. All blame goes to a bland-outdated story which weak execution. If you want to give it a try, you can but don't keep expectations.

Theh forgot to put in any horror

[aaronjconroy · 2/10 · 17 October 2023]

This was a big disappointment Story was so bland and slow, plot dragged along at a snails pace.

There was a love interest side plot that didn't need to be there, and ultimately went nowhere.

It's one of these horror movies where everyone tries to help the main character and they get maimed or killed for it while nothing happens the protagonist.

When the demon was actually revealed it looked so laughable. Like an early 2000s bad version of an Alien. As for any kind of tension or jump scares, they were executed so poorly and happened so rarely. I was yawning waiting for something interesting or scary to happen.

Writing at times felt like is it was a teenager who prevailed no matter what, even at one point getting knocked our only to wake to demon about to eat her friend but he's arbitrarily doing nothing over her till the main girl awakes, so dumb. Why would he wait, there's no reason for him.

Couldn't get into this at all. Only reason I gave it 2 stars is production wise the movie is shot well, sounds and looks well for the most part.

But bland characters, unexplored plot, predictable ending, tedious pacing and severe lack of any horror or tension. Big disappointment.

While a very familiar horror setup, Bishal Dutta gives it a unique spin using Hindu culture and mythology with a strong performance from Megan Suri

[IonicBreezeMachine · 6/10 · 13 October 2023]

Samidha "Sam" (Megan Suri) is a teenage girl of Indian descent who is often at odds with her mother Poorna (Neeru Bajwa) over adherence to culture and tradition with Sam even anglicizing her name and speaking mostly in English in order to downplay the connection. Sam is approached for help by her former best friend Tamira (Mohana Krishnan) who often isolates herself from others and carries a jar. Tamira tells Sam that inside the jar is a monster she's trying to keep contained but is losing the ability to do so, Sam disbelieving of Tamira rejects her and in a moment of anger slaps down the jar. Soon after Tamira disappears and Sam and her friends and loved ones soon start to experience a sinister unseen presence in their lives that is tied to Sam's culture.

It Lives Inside is the feature writing and directing debut of Bishal Dutta who previously had directed a number of short films and some TV episodes. Dutta took inspiration from his experiences of growing up in India prior to moving to North America and used Indian mythology as the basis for the story. While the movie doesn't stray far from the standard template of this kind of horror story, Dutta does give the material a unique spin with an interesting mostly untapped mythology in Western horror films which is well carried by Megan Suri's performance.

While the film takes us to a template that those familiar with The Ring, The Grudge and its various imitators are liable to know, it's important to understand that familiarity isn't necessarily a negative against a movie like this. While this premise can be done in mediocre fashion (Polaroid) or even downright awful (Feardotcom, Friend Request), that's less on the premise itself and more on the execution of the material. In the case of It Lives Inside, Dutta examines Sam's cultural and ethnic identity which is well acted by Megan Suri. We also get some strong character work from Neeru Bajwa's Poorna as we examine that schism that has developed between Sam and Poorna. In terms of scares, Dutta does a solid job of giving us a memorable and unique monster that ties in with the film's take on cultural baggage. Dutta puts the monster to good use in the first two thirds as we seldom get a good look at it (save for its eyes in the darkness) and once we see it, it's a very memorable and threatening design. I think my only real misgiving is with the ending of the film which isn't one of those shock endings or anything, but for a story that seemed to be trying to handle the reconciliation of one's cultural identity it really seemed like it was the wrong route to take in my opinion.

I honestly really enjoyed It Lives Inside. While it's not a perfect film and features an ending I really wasn't a fan of, I still give props to Dutta from creating a scenario I was invested in and a unique and memorable monster.