It Lives Inside - The scoop and digest

Inspired by a story his grandfather used to tell him, writer-director Bishal Dutta makes feature-length directorial debut.

Megan Suri - Sam/Samidha

Neeru Bajwa - Poorna

Mohana Krishnan - Tamira

Betty Gabriel - Joyce

Gage Marsh - Russ

Summary

Samidha attempts to reject her cultural heritage and mix with white friends at school, but in the process, grows apart from bestie Tamira, who is never without a strange glass jar.

When Tamira tells Sam about a monster living inside makeshift comfort blanket, she reacts unfavourably and lashes out, causing vessel to break.

Shortly after, Tamira goes missing.

Following a series of terrifying nightmares, Sam asks her teacher Joyce for help, whose digging returns a demonic entity in East Indian mythology called the Pishach, that feeds on negative energy.

Pennywise anybody?

The race is on to rescue Tamira.

Devourer of souls

Interesting concept is hindered by generic execution.

Having said that, I've seen much worse.

There are some decent set pieces and jump scares can be effective.

Appearance of Jenaya Ross's demon is predictably kept mysterious until climax, but Xenomorph crossed with Predator looks pretty goofy.

Creature is weakened by Sam and Tam chanting shanti and ultimately contained when Sam allows it to enter her body.

Apart from lifting elements from A Nightmare on Elm Street and It Follows, Karan's journal is unashamedly modelled on Evil Dead.

Yes, I'm talking about 2013 re-imagining, not The Evil Dead.

Damn filmmakers and their irritating titles.

I did note Sam wears a tee which appears to be based on Army of Darkness.

Most of all, this smells strongly of The Babadook, right down to satisfying entity's insatiable hunger for food.