In It’s What’s Inside, a comedy-thriller that blends body-swapping with pre-wedding drama, confusion and chaos take center stage. The film’s plot twists, identity swaps, and tangled relationships can leave even the most attentive viewers scratching their heads. With its intricate storyline and outrageous premise, the movie requires some careful piecing together to grasp who is who by the time the credits roll. If you finished feeling a bit disoriented, rest assured—you’re not alone.
What’s Inside It’s What’s Inside?
The premise of It’s What’s Inside centers on a group of friends who, at a pre-wedding party, engage in a body-swap game that quickly goes awry. What begins as a playful experiment spirals out of control as bodies are swapped multiple times, personalities clash, and hidden motives begin to unravel. With each swap, the stakes rise, leading to a dizzying finale.
Writer-director Greg Jardin confessed that even he found the complex body-swap plot challenging to navigate. “In that first outline, I literally made a Photoshop diagram of eight people’s heads with their names,” Jardin explained. “Then I’d just put ‘This person is in this body now’ to keep it all straight.” But beyond the body-swap gimmick, the film is layered with twists, including the most significant revelation: the true identity of Forbes (David Thompson).
Who is Beatrice?
One of the key twists in It’s What’s Inside is the reveal of Forbes’ true identity, a revelation that significantly enhances the film’s impact. Forbes’ sister, Beatrice (Madison Davenport), is introduced early on, her storyline initially appearing more like a background detail. Beatrice, who struggles with mental instability, harbors a long-standing crush on Dennis (Gavin Leatherwood). A college party years ago culminated in a confrontation between Forbes and Dennis over Beatrice, resulting in Beatrice being institutionalized and Forbes being expelled.
The pivotal detail lies in the game’s rules. When Forbes explains how to play the body-swap game, he states, “The Dungeon Master can’t make guesses, nor can she or he win.” This seemingly subtle line hints at the film’s major twist: Forbes is actually Beatrice, who has hijacked her brother’s body as part of a long-planned revenge scheme. The real Forbes has been locked away in Beatrice’s body, only making an appearance near the film’s end when he arrives at the canceled wedding, desperately seeking to reclaim his own body.
Beatrice’s revenge extends beyond merely switching bodies—she also aims to claim Dennis’ trust fund. By the time Forbes (now actually Beatrice) successfully executes her plan, she has already made off with the body-swap machine and the money.
The Revenge Plot
Madison Davenport, who portrayed Beatrice in both flashbacks and present-day scenes, described the challenge of embodying a character orchestrating such a complex revenge plot. “For Beatrice, I was a more unhinged version of myself,” she explained, noting that Beatrice has been meticulously plotting her revenge for years.
Meanwhile, David Thompson faced the tricky task of portraying Forbes, who is actually Beatrice in disguise for much of the film. His performance had to subtly convey Beatrice’s motivations and her simmering anger toward Dennis and the other friends she believed had wronged her.
One of the most compelling aspects of Beatrice’s revenge is her connection to Shelby (Brittany O’Grady). Beatrice-as-Forbes identifies with Shelby’s feelings of victimization and dissatisfaction, seeing her own struggles reflected in Shelby’s quest for validation. This connection adds another layer to Beatrice’s complex character, making her motivations all the more relatable.
The Body-Swap Madness
As the film progresses, the body-swapping becomes increasingly bewildering. At one point, Cyrus (James Morosini) ends up in Reuben’s (Devon Terrell) body, while Reuben finds himself in Dennis’ body. Maya (Nina Bloomgarden) and Nikki (Alicia Debnam-Carey) also get caught up in the swaps, with romantic entanglements adding to the chaos.
In one particularly messy moment, Cyrus (in Reuben’s body) and Maya (in Nikki’s body) give in to their feelings for each other, resulting in a kiss that further complicates the already tangled situation. All of this unfolds against a backdrop of personal insecurities, especially for Shelby, who is struggling with her boyfriend Cyrus’ attraction to Nikki. This emotional turmoil amplifies the comedic chaos, making the stakes even higher for everyone involved.
The Tragic Turn
While the movie is filled with humor, it takes a tragic turn when Reuben (in Dennis’ body) and Brooke (Reina Hardesty) fall to their deaths during a romantic encounter. This shocking moment propels the remaining characters into a desperate fight for survival—and for the chance to return to their original bodies. The stakes suddenly escalate, shifting the tone from playful chaos to a more serious struggle, forcing the characters to confront the consequences of their actions and the true weight of their situation.
The Final Swap
In the final act, Beatrice’s plan unravels, leaving most characters struggling to reclaim their bodies. In an ironic twist, Shelby and Cyrus contemplate the idea of staying in their new bodies—Shelby in Nikki’s and Cyrus in Reuben’s—only for the plan to backfire. Ultimately, Shelby comes to the realization that seeking Cyrus’ approval won’t bring her happiness, leading her to decide to send them both back into their original bodies. This pivotal moment underscores her growth and commitment to self-empowerment, marking a significant turning point in the narrative.
But there’s one final betrayal: Beatrice (in Nikki’s body) manages to escape, while Cyrus ends up in jail for the deaths of Dennis and Maya. In a fitting moment of closure, Shelby visits him in prison and delivers a powerful final line: “Fuck on that, bitch!” This exchange encapsulates her journey of self-discovery and empowerment, leaving a lasting impact as the story comes to a close.
The Aftermath
By the film’s end, everyone is either dead, imprisoned, or left to pick up the pieces of their chaotic body-swapping adventure. Beatrice has successfully evaded capture, taking Dennis’ trust fund with her, while Shelby emerges with a newfound sense of self-worth.
It’s What’s Inside is now streaming on Netflix, inviting viewers for a rewatch—if only to catch the myriad Easter eggs and subtle clues that build up to its shocking, body-swapping conclusion. It’s a wild ride that rewards attentive viewers with its intricate plot and clever twists.
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Featured image: Netflix
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