IT LIVES INSIDE (2023)
Label: Decal Releasing
Region Code: A
Audio/Video: It Lives Inside (2022) arrives on BD-R from Neon in 1080p HD framed in 2.39:1 widescreen. The HD presentation is solid, colors are well-saturated, black levels are impressive, and depth and clarity of the digitally shot film are pleasing. Audio comes by way of English and Hindi DTS-HD MA 5.1 with optional English subtitles. The English and Hindi language dialogue sounds fine, the score from Wesley Hughes also has good fidelity and depth to it.
Also available from www.moviezyng.com HERE:
Rating: PG-13
Duration: 99 Minutes
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.39:1)
Director: Bishall Dutta
Cast: Megan Suri, Neeru Bajwa, Mohana Krishnan, Betty Garbiel, Vik Sahhay
Samidha "Sam" (Megan Suri, Missing) is an Indian-American highschool student just trying to fit into her predominantly white highschool, she's been successful and is popular, but her assimilation has caused her to distance herself from her former childhood friend Tamira (Mohana Krishnan), who is having a more difficult time being accepted. At home her father Inesh (Vik Sahay, TV's Chuck) is also accepting of her Westernization, however, her traditional mother Poorna (Neeru Bajwa, Criminal) is less accepting, and is not happy that she has stopped speaking her native tongue of Hindi at home, seemingly rejecting her Indian culture, and does not bring friends home to meet her parents, which causes friction at home. At school we see that Tamira seems very run down and tired, and when Sam encounters her carrying around a sealed mason jar she tells Sam the vessel contains a creature that eats negative feelings and loneliness, that it's all but consumes her. Sam does not believe her friend and accidentally breaks the jar in the process, unleashing whatever was inside.
Samidha "Sam" (Megan Suri, Missing) is an Indian-American highschool student just trying to fit into her predominantly white highschool, she's been successful and is popular, but her assimilation has caused her to distance herself from her former childhood friend Tamira (Mohana Krishnan), who is having a more difficult time being accepted. At home her father Inesh (Vik Sahay, TV's Chuck) is also accepting of her Westernization, however, her traditional mother Poorna (Neeru Bajwa, Criminal) is less accepting, and is not happy that she has stopped speaking her native tongue of Hindi at home, seemingly rejecting her Indian culture, and does not bring friends home to meet her parents, which causes friction at home. At school we see that Tamira seems very run down and tired, and when Sam encounters her carrying around a sealed mason jar she tells Sam the vessel contains a creature that eats negative feelings and loneliness, that it's all but consumes her. Sam does not believe her friend and accidentally breaks the jar in the process, unleashing whatever was inside.
Tamira disappears shortly after, and during a Hindu prayer meeting hosted by her family at her house Sam overhears friends of the family talking about Tamira's disappearance and how it might be connected to another young Indian teen who died the previous year, making a vague reference to his family having brought something over from India with them. Worried for her friend and feeling bad about having more or less abandoned her former friend when she needed her most for the sake of popularity Sam investigates her friend's disappearance and how it might be connected to the Indian teen who died previously. All the while she begins feeling an invisible dark presence around her, which goes after anyone who attempts to help her, including a young man who crushes on her (Gage Marsh, Riverdale) and a well-meaning and genuinely concerned teacher (Betty Gabriel, Get Out), both of who are attacked by the malevolent demon spirit, which we come to find out is called a Pishacha. Sam finds a book that Tamira had in her possession that belonged to the other young man who died previously, inside are writings about a demon, horrific illustrations, and instructions on how to trap it, which has a bit of a Necronomicon vibe about it.
It Lives Inside is an interesting take on demonic possession, coming at from a new angle with the element of Hindu folklore and mythology and the struggles of Indian-American teens attempting to fit into Western society. The film looks terrific with attractive lensing, I like the slow push ins and camera movements; and the score is effective, but the story itself was a bit too familiar for me. The creature itself is on hinted at for most of the film, doing it's deeds in the shadows or just straight up invisible, only seen in full in the final leg which was fine, but once it's revealed I was a bit unimpressed with it, it seemed too familiar. The cast is pretty strong, particularly lead Megan Suri, but despite some decent chills being generated it never quite put the fright into me or instilled a true sense of dread. A decent watch, but not anywhere near as exciting as something like The Babadook or It Follows. Not a bad directorial debut from Bishall Dutta but not one that is memorable either, we get a low body count, not much gore, and despite an interesting if familiar premise it only musters up the occasional chill, but fails to pull off the dread or carnage needed to sustain my interest.
Audio/Video: It Lives Inside (2022) arrives on BD-R from Neon in 1080p HD framed in 2.39:1 widescreen. The HD presentation is solid, colors are well-saturated, black levels are impressive, and depth and clarity of the digitally shot film are pleasing. Audio comes by way of English and Hindi DTS-HD MA 5.1 with optional English subtitles. The English and Hindi language dialogue sounds fine, the score from Wesley Hughes also has good fidelity and depth to it.
No extras for this burned. The single-disc release arrives in a standard keepcase with a single-sided sleeve of artwork.
Also available from www.moviezyng.com HERE:
