It Lives Inside

A mediocre horror film about a monster that terrorizes a young girl invisibly. The only thing that sets It Lives Inside apart from the competition is its setting among immigrants from India and its use of their traditions and mythology. Otherwise, it is a routine horror film that surprises neither in plot nor in execution. (10/27/2023)

This new demonic horror film had potential thanks to the unconventional Indian Lore, but it holds back too much and is unfortunately boring. It's a good thing the film was released a month before it's due to arrive in our cinemas, because I'd probably regret the money and the trailer looked rather creepy. You can say that it is a demonic teen standard that doesn't offend or impress, but since there is no gore, for me it is a useless variation of something we’ve seen a hundred times without any innovative addition and with minimal audience engagement. The story is classic, it picks up at a slower pace, but what could be praised a bit is the likeable and lovable protagonist, the addition of Indian culture and traditions, and the nice look of the demon, which they show only at the end though, and I didn't really buy the fight. If it had been R-rated, I believe it could have been more interesting (the few deaths could have had potential), but with the PG-13 rating it all comes off kind of pointless. Disappointing for me, there are worse things, but I could have done without it. 4/10. (10/17/2023)

A new release leaked on torrents before the cinema premiere, what a treat! It's even more of a shame that it's not something downright excellent, but it's definitely not a dud either (eh, hello to the new Exorcist movie, which has ended up almost in the Boo! ratings). This film doesn't offer much that's memorable, but it does a decent job with the rest. In particular, it benefits most from a solid mythology surrounding the Indian demon, the occasional creepy scene, and the fact that it doesn't get boring. The rest of it is otherwise the classic predictable boilerplate with a foregone conclusion plot and ending, but when compared to the crappy horror movies that have been coming out in recent years, this is one of the better ones and can be finished completely unharmed, even with interest. In the end, I'm maybe just a little disappointed that the demon in all its glory isn't shown until the finale and that its banishment is a little too unsophisticated, but maybe that's just my pretentiousness and weariness with this generic and repetitive genre. (10/12/2023)

A mostly standard and, in terms of filmmaking, routine horror movie about a high-school girl for whom an unintentionally unleashed demon causes problems (while also abducting and killing her friends). The film deals with the issue of inclusion of minorities in society, is pleasing with several practical effects, and somewhat rises above the level of mediocrity with its emphasis on Indian mythology and cultural traditions, though that is also the only thing about it that doesn’t come across as hackneyed. (10/07/2023)