![]() ![]() ![]() However, the film takes place in small-town America as seen in scenes that feature Sam walking or riding her bike in the suburbs which resemble Laurie Strode’s Haddonfield, Illinois neighborhood. There are scenes that give authenticity to the characters who are dressed in traditional saris and kurtas, practice Hinduism, and consume appetizing Indian cuisine. The film’s Indian roots set it apart from other horror films and Dutta remains faithful to the culture. Betty Gabriel, who starred in “Get Out,” delivers a dynamic performance as the concerned teacher. There are references and Easter eggs abound in “It Lives Inside” which draws strength from Dutta’s inspirations including “Jaws” - the swing set kill is reminiscent of Chrissie Watkins’s death in the opening scene of Spielberg’s thriller - while the school setting recalls Wes Craven’s “Nightmare on Elm Street” including a standout moment as Joyce is perused by the Pishach while working late at the empty high school. Sam’s fortitude never wavers as she battles the mostly unseen monster like a young Ripley battling a Xenomorph in the “Alien” franchise. Megan Suri is the film’s VIP, as Dutta takes every opportunity to zoom in on his protagonist’s face to gauge the level of horror. The CGI effects are downplayed, used intermittently with practical effects that feature Jenaya Ross as the malignant Pishach. When Sam finally confronts Tamira about her behavior, the two get into a tussle and the Mason jar accidentally breaks unleashing the Pishach which begins wreaking havoc on classmates like Sam’s boy crush Russ (Gage Marsh) and concerned teacher Joyce (Betty Gabriel).īishal Dutta’s debut horror feature incorporates real tension heightened by an active soundscape and a few jump scares. She thinks they are only asking because both are Indian immigrants but it’s because both used to be best friends. There was a third, but he died under mysterious circumstances as witnessed in the film’s opening scene.Įveryone keeps asking Sam if Tamira is okay which is beginning to annoy her. The former friends seem to be the only two Indian students in the high school. Back at school, the teen would rather hang with her white classmates than her former best friend Tamira (Mohana Krishnan) who has been acting strange lately Think of her as the Emo version of “basket case” Allison in “The Breakfast Club” except instead of a Cap’n Crunch and Pixie Stix sandwich she carries raw meat that she feeds a demon trapped in a Mason jar. There’s no trace of an accent in Sam’s voice as she communicates in English with her Hindi-speaking mother Poorna (Neeru Bajwa).
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