Rating: A+
Inside is a horror gem. It's one of the few horror films
which manages to do everything right and more. Much of the time the ranking
given to any horror film is relative and does not usually stand true comparing
to other great film outside the genre. For most people a good horror film is
considered exactly that, a good horror film
and not necessarily a good film overall. My purpose to mention this is to say
that Inside is a great film in every aspect and not just a great horror film.
Premise:
Sarah (Alysson Paradis) has lost her husband in a car
accident four months ago. She is heavily pregnant and is resting peacefully at
her home, the night before her delivery. In the middle of the night a woman (Beatrice
Dalle) knocks on the door. She is in distress and wants to use the phone. Sarah
refuses to open the door and goes back to bed. But the woman is not gone. She
is still there, waiting. She knows about Sarah's personal life and is
determined to get inside. She wants her BABY. Soon the silence in the house
dissipates and the screams dominate. Chaos, pain and chase for life and death
begins.
Review:
Not very often does a debutant achieve the status of a great
director but that's what happened with this debutant duo. Alexandre Bustillo
and Julien Maury showed such skill and mastery of the art that it was
impossible to not acknowledge their craft as great. They know the art of
suspension and restraint. Their magic started from the early stage in script as
they are the writers as well. Anyone can have a great concept, an initial idea
which is unique and groundbreaking. The true art though is in the pace and the
way it's effectively projected. A great setup would depend heavily on the great
characters to have that impact. That is what many films lack, the gore and
nonsense action is thrown at us without any proper context or believable
characters. This shuts our mind and sympathy and we merely wait for another
explosion to happen. This film is self
aware and too smart to do that mistake. First act is almost entirely bloodless
and a slow burner. Sarah goes to hospital for a check-up. She meets her mom and
later her employer, who is supposed to take her to hospital next morning. But none
of the scenes are boring. They set the mood, develop the characters and has
that subtle eeriness to them. It feels like calm before the storm. So, when the
action does kick in, it grabs you and doesn't let go. You care for Sarah and
you want her to survive. But directors don't waste time by hanging on with your
sympathy but rather constantly throw something unexpected. That is great
writing, because having one location and two characters limit the ways you can
surprise us. But the writers constantly throw twists and turns while keeping
the smooth progression and without breaking the overall theme or feel. For
instance, the first thing Sarah does when being suspicious of stranger is that
she calls the cops. Cops do arrive as well. Her mother visits her too. Let's
say that all the actions were very understandable which keeps your sympathy for
the protagonist throughout the film. The
score was pulse pounding literally. I am not much fun of a background score in
the film but when done right, it does escalate the tension. The score here is
so eerie and blends with the environment seamlessly. Lightning is another
important aspect in the horror films. The use of shadows was brilliant making
the dark corners all the more scary. Specially look out for 'something' in the
darkness when Sarah is resting on the chair. I do not have enough praise for
the leading ladies. Alysson as a vulnerable ordinary woman stuck in the turmoil
is brilliant. We care for her and want her to survive and survive she does.
Beatrice as the mysterious woman is possibly one of the most cruel and
terrifying antagonist in recent memory. The way she stares with unnerving malice
sends chills down the spine. The dialogue is minimum and the story is carried wholly
by these amazing ladies with their speechless performance.
The film has gore, lots of it. But that's the most justified gore used in a film for years. It works as an art not as a cheap thrill. There is certain poetry in the way Sarah lies on the bed bathed in blood, almost like a corpse, staring into the distance. You will have to see to appreciate the beautifully orchestrated imagery throughout. The contrast of white and red colour in many scenes is striking. This film did put the directors as one of the most promising debutant directors for horror genre. There is no exaggeration in that at all. I will not reveal more plot, my reviews are about why certain film works or doesn't work and what exactly stands out or lacks. The aesthetics and the craft of it. You can read more detailed synopsis on Imdb but I would not recommend that-at all.
Conclusion:
This film is one of my favourite horror films possibly ever.
Films like these make me proud to love this genre. This film shows why horror
films work. There is a desire as an audience to feel vulnerable and feeling
scared while sitting comfortably in the safe environment of home or cinema. We
want to feel, for even few moments, to be transported to another world. Where imaginary
characters come to life and where nothing is safe. That feeling of fear is not
easy to convey. Most of it comes from unexpected. This is the reason why this
film works so brilliantly. In the sea of mediocrity, Alexandre and Julien have
made something unexpected and extraordinary. Their film defies genre
classification and evokes universal emotion. The one which is instantly relatable
but difficult to achieve. FEAR.
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