It’s What’s Inside is a captivating new horror film that has ignited discussions among viewers since its debut on Netflix. Audiences have posed a thought-provoking question regarding one of the main characters.
The storyline is refreshingly straightforward: on the eve of a wedding, a group of former college friends gathers for a reunion, but things take a wild turn when one of them introduces a device that enables body-swapping.
Keeping track of everyone’s identity becomes a tangled affair, adding to the enjoyment. Furthermore, director Greg Jardin’s film is visually stunning, enhanced by its vibrant neon aesthetic and clever cinematography, which amplifies the audience’s disorientation.
After its release on Netflix on October 4, It’s What’s Inside quickly climbed to seventh place on the platform’s Top 10 movies list and received an impressive 81% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Note: Spoilers are ahead!
It’s What’s Inside conclusion raises a significant question
Meanwhile, viewers have been analyzing the film’s plot. Although it has garnered acclaim, a focal point of contention has emerged: whether Cyrus should face life imprisonment.
From the beginning, Cyrus (played by James Morosini) comes off as somewhat of a jerk. He fails to treat his girlfriend Shelby (Brittany O’Grady) with the respect she deserves, while he spends excessive time yearning for their mutual friend, Nikki (Alycia Debnam-Carey).
Before the gathering, Shelby tries to entice her boyfriend by donning a blonde wig, hoping to resemble Nikki more closely.
After the first body swap, Cyrus makes his intentions known when he takes on Reuben’s (Devon Terrell) form, impersonating Forbes (David Thompson) and kisses Nikki, who at that moment is being embodied by Maya (Nina Bloomgarden).
During the second round of swaps, Shelby occupies Nikki’s body, leading to unexpected developments. Reuben finds himself in Dennis’ (Gavin Leatherwood) body while Brooke (Reina Hardesty) switches into Maya’s.
The duo begins an intimate encounter on the balcony, which ultimately results in a precarious fall. This leaves Dennis and Maya without bodies, triggering a cascade of issues for everyone involved.
As tensions rise, they argue over their next steps, with Cyrus, currently in Forbes’s body, proposing everyone revert back to their original forms while Dennis and Maya take over Reuben and Brooke’s bodies respectively.
Cyrus harbors feelings for Nikki
Dennis is discontent with this suggestion and threatens to involve the authorities. In a moment of desperation, Cyrus makes a false confession of having pushed Dennis and Maya off the balcony. As the group awaits the police, they devise various plans amidst the mounting chaos.
Shelby advises Cyrus to switch into Reuben’s body and leave whoever occupies his body to face jail time. She proposes to stay in Nikki’s body, allowing them to escape together.
Cyrus consents, revealing his true feelings for Nikki. However, unbeknownst to him, this situation has led Shelby to recognize the extent of her unhappiness in seeking his love and validation.
By the film’s conclusion, only Cyrus and Shelby revert to their original bodies, resulting in Cyrus facing prison time for the deaths of Dennis and Maya.
While many acknowledge his poor behavior, a significant number of viewers feel he was undeserving of such a grim outcome. “I just have one concern,” expressed a Reddit user. “Did Cyrus really merit a life behind bars?”
Numerous viewers believe Cyrus shouldn’t be imprisoned
Another commenter added, “Absolutely not. He wasn’t that bad. I’m totally against Shelby for her actions at the end. I emerged from the film absolutely disliking her.
“Initially, she wanted to keep Nikki’s body, then just allowed Cyrus to suffer for something he didn’t do. She manipulates him under Beatrice’s orders.
“He was genuinely trying to revert back to their original bodies, but she countered his proposal. I think he simply didn’t want to remain in Forbes’s body.”
“Cyrus was infuriating and obnoxious from the film’s start, but wow, Shelby was equally terrible,” a third user commented. “Realistically, she should’ve aided him in the end since they were both quite deserving of each other.”
Another user expressed, “I find it hard to sympathize with Shelby’s perspective at the film’s end, especially considering her numerous manipulative actions towards the other characters. While Cyrus was indeed a poor boyfriend, he shouldn’t be left to rot in jail, lol.”
Nevertheless, some pointed out that all characters have their flaws. “Every character had their shortcomings, and all were indifferent about letting Cyrus take the blame,” remarked one viewer.
“Each of them had the agency to act, yet none did. I sympathized with all of them in some way. Reuben was unfaithful. Brooke engaged with a friend who was about to wed. Maya kissed a guy she thought was Forbes despite him having a girlfriend.
Characters from left to right: Brooke, Reuben, Cyrus, Shelby, Dennis, Maya, Forbes, and Nikki
“Cyrus manipulates Maya into kissing him while she’s in Nikki’s form after the treatment he’s dished out to Shelby over the last nine years. Dennis attempts to pin a murder on someone just because he assumed they stole from him and dated a high school girl.
“Nikki isn’t as awful as the others but still comes off as shallow and performative. Beatrice’s character needs no further commentary. And Shelby? Absolutely in the wrong for attempting to seize Nikki’s identity.”
In spite of this backlash, viewers generally enjoyed It’s What’s Inside. “I was truly impressed by this film! Lately, I’ve felt disenchanted with horror, but this movie was a thrilling and engaging experience, filled with fun,” shared one viewer. Another chimed in, “Great film—really enjoyed the visuals.”
It’s What’s Inside featured a “darker”alternative ending
As for director Jardin, he welcomes the various perspectives regarding the ending. “I’m pleasantly surprised by the differing opinions on the ethics surrounding the conclusion, which I find exciting,” he shared with Variety.
Shelby returns to her original self
He further disclosed that It’s What’s Inside had an original ending with a “darker tone,” indicating that in this alternate sequence, “Shelby remained in Nikki’s body, and it was Nikki who visited him in prison and told him to take a hike.”
“As I collaborated with the cast and established the tone, while hearing the music cues, we realized that the ending should signify a larger victory for Shelby, thus prompting a change,” Jardin explained.
“Initially, I envisioned it similarly to Black Mirror: the main character achieves their desires, yet the audience feels a sense of discomfort. However, through the entire experience, it became apparent that Shelby should evolve as a character rather than taking a darker route.”
Is a sequel on the horizon?
While It’s What’s Inside 2 has yet to receive confirmation, Jardin is open to the notion of a sequel for his horror movie.
Plenty of narratives await exploration, especially following the shocking revelation in the ending that Forbes was never truly Forbes but rather his sister Beatrice (Madison Davenport).
Beatrice plotted to use the body swap device to assume her brother’s identity, infiltrate the pre-wedding celebration, and seek revenge on Dennis for a past indiscretion while she was still in high school, which resulted in her institutionalization.
Beatrice flees with Dennis’s funds (and Nikki’s form)
While inhabiting Dennis’s body, Beatrice exploits his phone to transfer his trust fund assets into her offshore account.
In the final switch, she finds herself in Nikki’s body, concluding with a scene of her driving toward the horizon as the influencer, equipped with the body-swap machine and Dennis’s money in her possession.
Regarding potential plans for an It’s What’s Inside sequel, Jardin noted, “Since Sundance, people have been expressing interest, which has surprised me. Time will tell, but presently there are no concrete plans for a sequel.”
You can now stream It’s What’s Inside on Netflix. With the spooky season approaching, check out our suggestions for the best movies to introduce children to horror, the most terrifying films based on real events, and details on how to watch the Terrifier movies in chronological order before the upcoming third film.
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