Critic’s Rating: 2.5/5
Review: ‘It’s what’s inside’ starts with a bang, delivering an intriguing premise that sets the stage for a psychological thrill ride. A bickering couple, looking to rekindle their strained relationship, joins six of their close friends for a pre-wedding bash at a sprawling, art-filled mansion. But the night takes a strange turn when an unexpected guest—a long-lost friend—arrives with a mysterious suitcase in hand, much to the surprise of the group.
Inside this suitcase lies a bizarre contraption filled with wires and cords, capable of switching people’s bodies. What begins as an innocent party game quickly turns into a surreal identity swap, leaving the group questioning not only who’s who, but also their hidden motives and unresolved conflicts. As the friends’ identities switch multiple times, long-buried secrets, grudges, and desires emerge, creating the potential for a tense, mind-bending narrative.
Unfortunately, despite its promising start, the film struggles to maintain its momentum. The primary issue lies in the lack of sufficient character development. With so many characters introduced in quick succession, the audience doesn’t have enough time to connect with their individual traits, making the body-swapping sequences more confusing than compelling. As the characters’ identities change, it becomes difficult to keep track of who’s in whose body, and the film loses its grip on the audience, stalling for nearly an hour as the convoluted switching plays out without much emotional or narrative payoff.
By the time the plot finally picks up in the second half, the film begins to find its rhythm. A late twist gives the story the jolt it needed from the start, and the latter portion delivers more dramatic tension and fewer dull moments. But even though the film picks up speed, it fails to fully capitalize on its intriguing premise. What could have been a clever mix of body-swap comedy and psychological mystery instead falls flat, feeling like a missed opportunity to dive deeper into the characters’ psyches.
The film’s biggest flaw is that it attempts to juggle two overdone concepts—body swapping and the gathering of old friends in a single location—without offering anything new or compelling. Ironically, the story’s theme of revealing one’s true self through the swapping process feels underexplored. It veers between being overly simplistic and needlessly chaotic, often sidelining the supporting characters to focus more on the central couple, leaving the rest of the ensemble cast feeling underutilized. Some characters even seem out of place within the group dynamic, and the inclusion of a stereotypical “selfish influencer” feels like a forced attempt to stay relevant with millennial audiences.
That said, the film isn’t without its redeeming qualities. The production values are solid, and a few key performances manage to stand out, despite the occasionally lackluster script. Unfortunately, even the performances are undercut by poor choices in makeup and costuming—particularly bad wigs on some characters, which can be distracting. The potential for a more engaging story was there, but it’s overshadowed by a lack of depth and consistency in the character arcs.
Ultimately, while the film offers a few interesting moments and enough drama to keep some viewers hooked, it fails to live up to its full potential. It’s a one-time watch for fans of mysterious thrillers, though many may find themselves predicting the twists well before they arrive. The film leaves a mixed impression—ambitious but lacking the execution needed to truly stand out in its genre.