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| Sumber: Doc |
The film takes place over a single evening at a lakeside lodge where a group of friends gathers for a pre-wedding celebration. The participants include Shelby (played by Brittany O’Grady), the anxious and insecure girl, and her insensitive boyfriend, Cyrus (James Morosini). There’s also Nikki (Alycia Debnam-Carey), an influencerwho Cyrus is fond of, and Reuben (Devon Terrell), the groom. Adding to that are Dennis (Gavin Leatherwood), a wealthy trust-fund kid, Brooke (Reina Hardesty), free spirited artist, and Maya (Nina Bloomgarden), a spiritual seeker. The evening’s tension begins to build when an “expelled” friend named Forbes (David Thompson) arrives unexpectedly with a mysterious suitcase. As the night unfolds, the normal gathering takes a surreal and chilling turn, plunging everyone into a nightmare.
The film's central theme is a complicated dynamic of control, best represented by Forbes, whose presence and his mysterious suitcase began to determine each player's destiny. This is related to the power/knowledge theory of Michel Foucault, who maintained that knowledge and power are inseparable and that those with knowledge have the ability to control and influence reality in ways that others are unable to see or oppose. Forbes has a special advantage over his friends because he is the only one who knows the "game" of body-swapping. He is positioned as the group's puppet master and thinker since he knows information that the others do not.
Forbes manipulates his friends' interactions by using his knowledge. He exposes weaknesses, buried anger, and hidden desires by forcing each person to face hidden aspects of both themselves and others through the body swaps. According to Foucault, power is a subtle, universal influence that moulds behaviour and controls consequences rather than an obvious, oppressive force. This is demonstrated by Forbes' mastery of the body-swapping game, which allows him to plan and observe the aftermath of chaos while influencing the evening's events with skill and manipulation. Because of his seeming knowledge due to his understanding of the game rules, the night becomes a psychological dominance experiment in which the other players are left at his mercy.
Thanks to Kelvin Fletcher, 'It’s What’s Inside' serves as a treat for fans of creative transitions and camerawork. Using color shifts, slow zooms, and subtle lighting changes, Jardin signals moments when the plot takes a darker or surreal turn. The red color used as a visual cue for “real” characters is an effective choice, as it helps the audience follow the complex body-swapping scenes without feeling disoriented. Each transition is handled in detail, providing clues to viewers without over-explaining. The camerawork is equally impressive, often employing close-ups to reveal the characters’ shifting personalities as they swap bodies. Wide shots, on the other hand, capture the process of body swapping with the machine, emphasizing the sense of heart-pumping story progression.
The body-swapping concept is at the heart of the film’s plot. When Forbes runs his machine, it releases a wave through electrodes that causes the characters to swap bodies. The film takes this familiar sci-fi trope and gives it a unique, dark comedy spin. The body swaps forcing each character to confront their insecurities, flaws, and hidden desires. The presentation of the body swap is accompanied by a mix of clever visual cues and sound effects, a mix of distorted audio and eerie background music, that adds to the sense of chaos and confusion for both the characters and the audience.
One of the film’s highlights is the cast’s ability to convincingly take on one another’s mannerisms and personalities with each new round of body-swapping. The actors’ transformations showcase their range and make the body-swapping sequences both believable and entertaining. Each actor’s skill in adopting the quirks and habits of their fellow cast members enhances the film’s impact.
The pacing of 'It’s What’s Inside' is crafted to keep audiences on edge, gradually building suspense through increasingly intense interactions and surreal occurrences. It starts with a relatively slow, which allows the audience to get comfortable with each personality and dynamic. As soon as Forbes opens the suitcase, the pace quickens, and the film shifts into a suspenseful, almost frantic tone that keeps viewers hooked until the end. Jardin handles the pacing greatly, ensuring that the audience is never too far behind the plot while also maintaining the mystery that keeps the film engaging.
The film uses a dynamic POV to immerse the viewer, switching between different characters’ perspectives as they experience body-swapping and psychological strain. Combined with eerie sound effects, the POV shifts create a surreal atmosphere that builds tension. Without giving away too much, the film’s ending is a true plot twist that will leave audiences stunned. Jardin wraps up the story with a resolution that exposes the hidden depths of each character’s motivations and flaws. The twist of uncovering new facts from “the uninvited guest” not only brings unexpected closure but also reinforces the film’s identity, making viewers to applaud.
Jardin's direction makes sure that viewers are never overly confused, even with the complex plot and the dramatic body-swapping scenes. He uses strategic editing, visual cues like the red glow for real characters, polaroid photos of each character, and selective pacing to guide the audience through the chaos. By giving each body swap a distinct visual marker, Jardin helps viewers follow along with ease, even as the characters themselves become more and more confused.
To sum up, 'It’s What’s Inside' is a very entertaining movie that makes a unique blend of humour, suspense, and psychological curiosity. It is remarkable and haunting because of its original twist on the body-swap game and the excellent acting of each character. In addition to being enjoyable, this movie provokes viewers' thoughts and makes them consider relationships and identity long after the credits have rolled. For fans of psychologically charged thrillers, "It's What's Inside" is a must-watch due to its skilfully written plot, captivating turns, and darkly humorous parts.
Penulis:
Bernadine Cresentia
(Mahasiswa Sastra Inggris UNJ)
