Writer/Director Bishal Dutta refreshingly gives a new spin on demonic possession for his feature film debut, It Lives Inside. Dutta uses a familiar framework of teen horror as an accessible introduction to underexplored mythology exacerbated by a cultural divide and adolescence. While Dutta wears his influences on his sleeves, the gnarly new demon and the complexities of its characters mark this director as one to watch.
Like most teens, Sam (Megan Suri) wants to fit in at school, so much so that she’s tried to distance herself from her cultural background as an Indian-American teen. This includes distancing herself from former childhood friend Tamira (Mohana Krishnan), who’s taken to carrying a strange jar around, to avoid staring looks and hushed whispers. Sam’s insecurities spike when a frazzled Tamira corners her in the locker room, begging for help with a parasitic evil. In a moment of disbelief and anger, Sam breaks the jar, unwittingly freeing the ancient Hindu demon, who kidnaps Tamira and begins a sinister, supernatural torment of Sam.
Save for an intriguing opening hook, Dutta keeps the horror minimal at first to establish character dynamics and emotional stakes. Sam’s relationship with her mother (Neeru Bajwa) remains tenuous at best over Sam’s withdrawal from their culture in favor of assimilating into their suburban neighborhood, following in line a bit with dad (Vik Sahay). Sam would rather sneak off to see crush Russ (Gage Marsh) than participate in family customs and gatherings. Since dad works the night shift, Sam often turns to teacher Joyce (Betty Gabriel) for counsel instead. These relationships highlight the warring halves in Sam as she internally struggles to reconcile her Indian heritage with growing up in a primarily white American town. That rich context and internal conflict captivate even before it becomes clear what horror can arise from losing cultural heritage while adapting.
The culture explorations mean the telltale signs of a lurking demon play out far differently than expected. It’s here that Dutta dials up the horror to a thrilling degree, offering plenty of spooky closet scares or waking nightmares to slowly unveil the Pishach and its patient, torturous reign of terror. The more it escalates in the second act, the more some of its scare tactics draw from horror’s scariest. An unsettling attack in the middle of the night borrows a page from The Ring’s Sadako, for example, though it’s no less effective in evoking chills.
Luckily, Dutta ties it all together in a satisfying third act that brings gnarly imagery and original demon design. There’s an assured confidence in the horror that makes for a thrilling watch, but It Lives Inside’s biggest strength is in the nuance of its cultural metaphor and Sam’s lingering guilt. Gabriel and Sahay bring a gentle tenderness, but it’s the fiery battle of wits, customs, and passion between Suri and Bajwa that drives the emotionally charged finale to a satisfying finish.
A conventional teen horror formula gets reworked into something that feels new thanks to an unforgettable Pishach and Dutta’s refusal to handhold. The filmmaker admirably relays only as much exposition about this world as needed, leaving the rest to strong visuals and direction. And it can’t be understated just how unique this demon is on screen. It’s bolstered by strong performances, especially from Suri and Bajwa. It Lives Inside introduces a bold new voice with an evident passion for the genre, creating a captivating new spin on demonic horror.
It Lives Inside made its World Premiere at SXSW. Neon will release theatrically later this year.
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