Inside

Inside tells the story of a patient who has multiple personality disorder and the struggle of dominance to which one of those personalities controls the body.

The initial concept of this short is original and intriguing, but I felt that the final presentation gives too much away and tries too hard to look stylistic that it loses it's originality. The use of many different actors as the multiple personalities and not just voices was a very smart move on the filmmaker's part, it visually tells us what we need to know in the matter of seconds.

Having the "personality" speak at the same time as the person who hosts these personalities is an interesting choice. It shows that the amount of preparation put into this film was immense. Each personality was extremely different from one another and the casting shows this.

The sets themselves were simple, yet overdone at the same time. It seemed they were trying too hard to get a certain feeling across by the way they created the hallway set piece, it didn't fit with the rest of the story or mood. It seemed too gimmicky and detaches the viewer as soon as they see it.

The female doctor, who later turned out to be one of his personalities as well gives away the secret twist at the end by looking at all the personalities. If that one particular scene was not in the final product it would have worked a lot better. Story telling, for a short such as this, the filmmakers need to be one step ahead of the audience all the time, especially if they want to catch them off guard with a twist. This short failed to do that.

The short itself was entertaining to watch, visually and technically really well done, but a few flaws with the story and it's presentation hurt it.

I got lucky and found this short on the net.

The sheer focus of mind that it must have taken these actors (especially Jeremy Sisto as the tortured Daniel) is amazing. It shows why, if this is what mental illness is like, that so many of these people take their own lives to end the agony.

I thought it was even more successful in the simplicity of the sets - the depressing colors made me think we saw Dr Jane and the environment as the patient was seeing them.

Definitely a must see for any fan of Jeremy Sisto. His talent shines in this one. Too bad it is, pardon the pun, so short.

I saw this short at the San Francisco Film Festival in 2002. I can't believe that Trevor Sands hasn't made lots of features - I was surprised to learn from IMDb he already did one in 1994. Why is he back to doing shorts - after an interval of 7 years when nothing happened? In 8 minutes, Inside is every bit as good and every bit as surprising as Identity, the James Mangold-Michael Mooney collaboration. The subject is multiple personality disorder, vividly dramatized as never before; the title has a double meaning. To say more would be to spoil the experience. I hope it becomes available on video, and that the filmmaker gets another feature greenlit soon.

I saw this short at the festival with the director I was working with at the time, to get a better idea of what a short film is, how the story varies from features, and the way one flows. I ended up learning how a short can capture an audience with its brilliance, hold it breathless, and unleash an extremely riveting finish. I have since seen a number of shorts, but I haven't yet found a drama of the like that can match this one in its complete mastery of the genre. Bravo, Mr. Sands. Bravo.

Loved it!!! It was very short, only 8 to 10 mins. but it was very entertaining, well acted, the concept and vision clever. All the personalities, the Mr. Clean intimidator, the conspiracy theorist, the giggler, the little girl, the level-headed contrite woman, the grouchy old man, and the guy who looks like a pan-fried Sid Vicious if he was alive today, were terrifically realized. Jeremy Sisto was once again outstanding as the "host" of all these people. Reedy Gibbs was quite the surprise as Dr. Jane. All in all, a great film.