Vive dentro (It lives inside)

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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]