FRIGHT FEST: IT'S WHAT'S INSIDE

 In It's What's Inside, a pre-wedding party descends into chaos when an estranged friend shows up with a mysterious game.

First off: David Thompson is unbelievably perfect as Forbes. That demented smile he wears during his first scene says it all: “I’m going to fuck all of you motherfuckers up, and I’m going to have a blast doing it.” The blank eyed smile he gives Cyrus while Cyrus is going off on a monologue to him… too perfect. Forbes perfectly embodies the trickster archetype. He’s come here to party at literally EVERYONE’S expense, and I’m here for it.

The cinematography (by Kevin Fletcher), production design (by Terry Watson), art direction (by Karl Lefèvre), and score (by Andrew Hewitt) are all superb. The design of the mansion is eclectic and cool. There are several rooms that feel like they shouldn’t exist in this mansion, and the place itself feels enormous.

The use of color here is impressive and cool. The lighting and colors are beautifully trippy and surreal. The color red is particularly important. The score is very wacky and eclectic as well. It stands out, in a good way, and fits the film it accompanies perfectly.

It's What's Inside is Greg Jardin's first feature film as director and screenwriter. He mostly worked on promos and music videos prior to this, which honestly isn't surprising as much of It's What's Inside has a trippy/psychedelic music video aesthetic to it. Jardin does an unbelievably good job for his first time. It's What's Inside is like a hard sci-fi twist on Bodies Bodies Bodies. It's got plenty of killer twists and turns throughout. It's always fun watching a bunch of horrible people get what's coming to them.

4 STARS