‘It Lives Inside’ draws on Indian folklore to bring a haunting creature to the screen in an intense horror mystery.
While most folklore is thought to be derived to explain something mysterious or convey a warning to children, it’s generally believed to not be based in truth or even reality in some instances. But for some, there’s always that slight chance it’s real, so you follow the rituals or obey the rules — just in case. In films, it’s easy to imagine a world in which these tales are real, bringing monsters to the screen that only previously lived in myths. In It Lives Inside, a Hindu terror is unleashed on a community, leaving death and destruction in its wake.
Samidha (Megan Suri), a.k.a. Sam, is just trying to fit in with the other high school kids. But her former best friend, Tamira (Mohana Krishnan), has taken the opposite route, ostracizing most of their class with her strange attachment to a mason jar. Sam feels bad for her, but is also afraid to risk catching her uncoolness. When Tamira finally comes to Sam for help, her rejection results in total disaster. Now, the demon is loose, lurking in the shadows and attacking anyone that may stand in its way. Sam must reconnect to her Indian culture and embrace her heritage if she has any chance of stopping the monster and saving those she loves.
The story is based on the Pishacha, a Hindu myth about a malevolent, flesh-eating creature that feeds on negative energy and eats people’s souls. Its image is initially only seen in art that depicts disturbing scenes of fear and death. Then its silhouette can be seen in reflections, its glowing eyes in dark corners, and brief, close-up glimpses at its unnatural form. Its presence is felt before it’s actually seen, keeping the tormented characters on edge and the audience on the lookout. They only vaguely allude to its origins, though there’s a number of unknowns about its existence and weaknesses. Nonetheless, all the filmmaker’s efforts to delay the big reveal pay off since it creates far more tension than if the viewer could see the Pishacha stalking its next victim.
Sam takes on the role of detective in this mythical horror mystery as she races against the clock to find out what happened to Tamira and prevent the cycle from repeating. In her attempts to fit in, Sam distanced herself from her Indian culture, much to her mother’s (Neeru Bajwa) chagrin, but it’s that heritage that she must now rely on to stop the monster. She enlists the help of several people, most of whom surprisingly don’t label her as crazy and dismiss her accusations. Of course, they’re mostly just pawns so the monster can demonstrate its power and raise the stakes for Sam. The ending is a refreshing change as writer-director Bishal Dutta opts for an unconventional conclusion not normally seen in this genre, though it’s hinted at earlier in the narrative and aligns with the overall story, which ultimately reunites Sam with her culture.
Director: Bishal Dutta
Starring: Megan Suri, Neeru Bajwa and Mohana Krishnan
