Review: 'It Lives Inside' is effective as a horror movie, but better as a peek into India's culture and creepy folklore

In the meta horror thriller “Cabin in the Woods,” scientists watch on monitors as various countries apply their traditions of horror to the shared problem of vanquishing a world-destroying demon — serving as a commentary on how cultures may take different, though parallel, approaches to the fine art of scaring the crap out of themselves. 

Indian American director Bishal Dutta, in his debut feature “It Lives Inside,” quite effectively and inventively shows how the folklore of India can give us a terrifying monster that attacks at the most vulnerable spot: A teen girl’s self-esteem.

Everyone at suburban Wooderson Grove High School (bonus points for the “Dazed and Confused” reference) has noticed that Tamira (Mohana Krishnan) hasn’t seemed well lately. She’s brooding, sullen, and hiding out during lunch hour under the bleachers. The one teacher who seems to care, Joyce (Betty Gabriel), asks another Indian American student, Samidha (Megan Suri), if she knows what’s wrong. Samidha and Tamira used to be best friends but have grown apart — and Sam, as she prefers to be called, doesn’t want to get involved.

One day, Tamira approaches Samidha, asking for help. Tamira is holding a Mason jar, and begs Samidha to help contain whatever it is that’s inside. Thoughtlessly, Samidha rejects the plea, and knocks the jar out of Tamira’s hands. When it hits the locker room floor and shatters, all hell breaks loose. Literally.

The script, by Dutta and Ashish Mehta, is better in the set-up than in the payoff. The depiction of Sam’s efforts to be American — speaking English when her first-generation mom (Neeru Bajwa) speaks Hindi, preferring to hang out with potential boyfriend Russ (Gage Marsh) than celebrating an Indian holiday with family — is painfully honest, and connects to the conflict with Tamira that leads to the nasty appearance of the movie’s monstrous evil. Once that happens, the horror-thriller formula is more cut-and-dried, though there are a few interesting surprises.

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‘It Lives Inside’

★★★

Opens Friday, September 22, in theaters everywhere. Rated PG-13 for terror, violent content, bloody images, brief strong language and teen drug use. Running time: 99 minutes; in English, and Hindi with subtitles.