IT LIVES INSIDE

US, 2023, 99 minutes, Colour.

Megan Suri, Neeru Bajwa, Mohana Krishnan, Betty Gabriel, Gage Marsh.

Directed by Bishal Dutta.

Yet another small American horror film, capitalising on the mysterious word “It”. Stephen King used it to great advantage. Various titles have been popular, variants on It’s Alive. It Came from Outer Space… So, once again, It’s Alive, but taking possession of people. It Lives Inside.

This is a teen horror film, for high schoolers and young adults. An immediate difference from the small American town and high school and student interactions, which it is, is the fact that the central character, Samidha,, preferring to be called Sam, making every effort to fit in with her very American peers (rather selfie-obsessed), belongs to an Indian American migrant family (as different from American Indians, Native Americans). And the writer-director, Bishal Dutta, comes from this kind of background.

With the Indian cultural and religious rituals and ceremonies, there is a variation on the kind of horror folklore that can be invoked. This time it is an evil spirit from the Indian tradition, who needs to be appeased with various ceremonies, including elaborate cooking of food and food offerings, but who actually feeds on malevolent attitudes.

A boy has killed himself. Sam’s best friend from the past, Tamira, seems to be possessed, a grim relic of her past self. But, she has contained the evil spirit in a bottle – which is smashed. The spirit roams again, eventually taking form as a giant horror creature, demonic.

There is trauma at home with Sam’s mother resentful of American culture and lifestyle, while her father is sympathetic. There is also a sympathetic counsellor at school who researches the mythologies and, of course, becomes the victim of horror pursuit through the corridors of the school. And, there is a nice American boy who is keen on Sam – but, to our surprise, the relationship is short lived (as is he).

A boarded-up house, hauntings, weird paintings on the roof, Tamira’s journal from the suicidal boy with all kinds of Hindi writing, symbolic numbers, and a confrontation between Sam and the Demon.

It all ends one year later – and, of course, leaves itself open for It Lives Inside 2.

1. Teen horror movie? Adults? High schoolers? Target audience?
2. The American town, homes, the Indian American family, celebrations, traditions, superstitions? School? The haunted house? Musical score?
3. Samidha, Indian family background, wanting to fit in, called Sam? Age? Wilful attitudes? Modern American, selfies…? Clashes with her parents? At school, the students, Joyce, confidante? Friendship with Russ, going to the party? The past friendship with Tamira?
4. The sinister events, the death of the boy, the boarded-up house, Sam and Russ exploring, the dark, the paintings and symbolism, the basement?
5. The family, the mother yearning for India, critical of American lifestyle, the sympathetic father? The preparation for the feast, Sam not wanting to cook, going out? The background of the feast, the spirit, appeasement, the food?
6. Tamira at school, appearing and disappearing, confronting Sam, the jar, the glow, the breaking of the jar, the freeing of the evil spirit?
7. The manifestations of the spirit, Sam with Russ, the joint, the attack, the swings, his death?
8. Sam and her going to Joyce, Joyce and her consideration, doing the research, her being persecuted in the school building?
9. Sam at home, the father’s return, the spirit, his being attacked and wounded?
10. Sam, haunted, at home, the ritual celebration, the cooking of the food, the offering? Sermon her experiences, the Demon, conflicts, Tamira, Sam absorbing the spirit?
11. The year later, Tamira better, the happy family gathering, her father revived, Joyce present?
12. Yet the suggestion that further horror stories?