Film Review: ‘It Lives Inside’ Portrays an Immigrant Adolescent’s Struggle to Assimilate Amidst a Sinister Backdrop

In this unsettling yet somewhat flawed allegory of the immigrant journey, a tangible monstrosity threatens not just the protagonist but anyone who dares to intervene.

The film marks the inaugural feature for director Bishal Dutta, who also co-authored the screenplay with Ashish Mehta. Set against the complex relational fabric of an Indian American family, the film succeeds in generating an air of suspense. The mother, Poorna (played by Neeru Bajwa), is steadfast in maintaining the cultural practices of their homeland. Conversely, her daughter Samidha, or “Sam” as she prefers, is less enthusiastic—a sentiment her father condones in principle. Sam’s efforts to assimilate include grooming habits designed to mimic popular influencers and a deliberate neglect of her cultural roots. She even avoids her own culturally-packed lunch and chooses to distance herself from her former best friend Tamira, another Indian American, all to sidestep the stereotype of being the “Indian girl” at school.

However, Tamira has undergone a troubling transformation. Her eerie demeanor and unexplained attachment to an obscure Mason jar do not align with Sam’s aspirations for social ascendance. This takes a dark turn when the Mason jar’s contents—which are malevolent—find their way into the open.

Dutta’s directorial techniques induce immediate tension, particularly through an unnerving prologue that emanates from a seemingly normal household. Yet, the film struggles to maintain a uniform tone. It vacillates between an atmosphere of unsettling suspense akin to that of “Stranger Things” and more commonplace horror elements such as jump-scares and nightmarish hallucinations. While startling, the film lacks in genuine innovation, which is a regrettable oversight given its unique subject matter.

The reactions of Sam’s parents add another layer of complexity but also cause some frustration. As Sam grapples with growing fear and paranoia, which seems completely justifiable in light of a classmate’s horrific death, her parents dismiss her concerns as if she were merely a rebellious teen. Her teacher (portrayed by Betty Gabriel of “Get Out”) stands as the lone empathetic figure, a position that makes her the target of the malevolent Pishacha.

Moreover, the film doesn’t sufficiently delve into compelling themes of assimilation, identity, and alienation, particularly once the monstrous entity takes center stage. This results in a narrative that doesn’t allow the audience to deeply engage with or care about the characters involved.

In summary, “It Lives Inside,” distributed by Neon and hitting theaters this Friday, does offer a fresh alternative to the stale horror franchises currently crowding cinemas. However, it misses the opportunity to fully leverage its unique aspects, a failing that parallels the central character’s own struggles with identity. The film is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for “teen drug use, brief strong language, bloody images, terror, and violent content,” and has a run time of 99 minutes. It earns a rating of two out of four stars.

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More about Film Review ‘It Lives Inside’

• [Motion Picture Association Ratings]
• [Interview with Director Bishal Dutta]
• [Cultural Identity and Assimilation in Cinema]
• [Overview of Modern Horror Film Tropes]
• [The Role of Family Dynamics in Film]
• [Neeru Bajwa Filmography]
• [Betty Gabriel’s Previous Works]
• [Themes of Alienation in Film]