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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 All blame goes to a bland-outdated story which weak execution.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.

So-so but acceptable horror movie full of thrills, chills , and shocking scenes starring an adolescent and by a sinister ghoul who goes amok. This Bishal Dutta's feature film directorial debut deals with an Indian-American teenager (Megan Suri) lives in an idyllic suburb with her conservative mother (Neeru Bajwa) and her assimilated father (Vik Sahay) . Sam's cultural insecurities grow due to her estranged friend, Tamira (Mohana Krishnan), who mysteriously carries around an empty mason jar all the time. Along the way, the teen is struggling with her cultural identity has a falling out with her former best friend and, in the process, unwittingly releases a demonic entity that grows stronger by feeding on her lonelines, shattering her reality and life .

This gloomy terror film contains thrills, intrigue, chills, and it connects with India religion, supernatural legends, Gods and Devils from India. Terror film about an ancient demon goes bersek, this is an American supernatural horror film written and directed by Bishal Dutta and starring Megan Suri. Genuinely scary moments overcome some obvious plot devices; this is a juicy gothic material fashioning an iconic monster providing screaming , chilling and eerie scenes. Bishal Dutta, baptized as the new Night Shyalaman by some critics, places the center of this horror film on Samitha, a young Indian, who lives in the USA and rejects her origins in order to fit in at school, what she does not know is that her roots can save her from a terrible threat. This horror films combines deadly rituals, a demonic entity starts targeting on teens, grisly killings and terrifying visions. During the presentation of the film at the prestigious Sitges Horror Film Festival, in its official section director Dutta declared: "Horror is the perfect genre to portray the insecurities of adolescence". As the director explained: ¨A ghost story that his grandfather told him was the origin of the film that explores, through Indian history and demonic forces, the drama of a young emigrant who seeks to find the balance between her dreams and the new culture of the country in which she lives¨.

It Lives Inside(2023) was mediocrely directed by Bishal Dutta and nothing special, that's why it is full of terrifying situations that we had already seen before and even better. The film debuted at the 2023 South by Southwest film festival, and was released by Neon on September 22, 2023. Getting several nominations and prizes, such as: Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival , 2023 Nominated Official Fantàstic Competition Best Motion Picture Bishal Dutta. Leo Awards 2024 Nominado Leo Best Casting in a Motion Picture, Kris Woznesensky , Kara Eide, Daniel Cardona, 2024 Nominado Leo Best Sound Motion Picture Sandra Portman (supervising sound editor) Nolan McNaughton (sound designer) Rob Coxford (re-recording mixer) Daniel Cardona (re-recording mixer) Eric Mouawad (dialogue editor) Shawn Miller (sound mixer) Craig George (sound effects editor) , Bishal Dutta 2024 Nominado Leo Best Direction in a Motion Picture. Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival Bishal Dutta 2023 Nominado Narcisse Award Best Feature Film. SXSW Film Festival Bishal Dutta 2023 winner Audience Award Bishal Dutta. Golden Scythe Horror Awards Megan Suri in It lives inside (2023), 2024 Nominado Golden Scythe.

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.

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)

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.