Sundance Review: IT'S WHAT'S INSIDE is an Exciting Sci-Fi Mystery
Upon the opening scene of It’s What’s Inside, directed by Greg Jardin and starring Brittany O’Grady, I was fully expecting a somewhat suspenseful movie about a party gone wrong, riding largely on the salacious behavior of a group of super hot people. But switching my brain off and preparing to zone out for two hours as one does with that kind of movie was definitely the wrong call. I was not prepared for all this movie was about to throw at me.
Gathering the night before their friend’s wedding, an eclectic group of friends plan to spend the evening drinking, smoking, and bragging about their lives. It seems like a normal party until one of their old college friends shows up with a mysterious suitcase and an idea for a fun party game that he swears is harmless. The night quickly descends into chaos as lies are told, truths are revealed, and relationships are pushed to the breaking point.
If this sounds kind of lame and trashy, you’re right to think that. But trust me when I tell you it gets more exciting and suspenseful. Elements of sci-fi, suspense, and mystery are all part of the whirlwind plot that left me guessing up until the very end of the movie.
Here’s the description of the film from Sundance:
A pre-wedding party descends into an existential nightmare when an estranged friend shows up with a mysterious suitcase.
Writer-director Greg Jardin’s playful, sexy, and science fiction–infused feature debut plays out within a twisted parlor game among a flock of raffish social media obsessives. Within the soapy fun of the spirited party atmosphere, Jardin ratchets up the tension and thrills, cunningly deploying stylish expository clues so that audiences can marvel at the fast-paced plot twists without being left behind. Featuring Alycia Debnam-Carey, Brittany O’Grady, and James Morosini, the dynamic, up-and-coming ensemble cast play multiple variations of their romantically entangled, secret-keeping characters with a winking wit and humor. The production’s splashy, colorful visual style echoes the exuberance of the high-concept premise, allowing for a layered delight in this immensely entertaining, wholly original brainteaser of a film.