It’s What’s Inside: Ending Explained and Issues in the First Body Swap

The newly released Netflix original film It’s What’s Inside premiered in the Midnight section at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2024. Following its debut, the film became available to stream on Netflix starting October 4. This mind-bending thriller marks the feature directorial debut of Greg Jardin and explores the chaotic dynamics of body-swapping among a group of old college friends.

Set against the backdrop of a lavish estate during a pre-wedding party, the friends discover a mysterious machine that swaps their consciousness with each other. The star-studded cast features Brittany O’Grady as Shelby, James Morosini as Cyrus, Alycia Debnam-Carey as Nikki, David W. Thompson as Forbes, Reina Hardesty as Brooke, and Madison Davenport as Beatrice.

In addition to the main cast, Nina Bloomgarden plays Maya, Gavin Leatherwood portrays Dennis, and Devon Terrell rounds out the team as Reuben. Director Jardin also contributed significantly as a writer and producer, intertwining elements of personal drama with supernatural twists throughout the narrative.

The initial body swap sets off a chain reaction of chaos. As each character grapples with hidden desires and secrets—initially finding humor in living through another’s perspective—their amusement quickly fades. Shelby, trapped in Nikki’s body, faces insecurities fueled by Cyrus’s barely concealed attraction to Nikki.

The first body swap notably exposes the cracks within their relationships, as Cyrus, inhabiting Reuben’s body, acts on his long-buried feelings for Nikki, who now appears as Maya.

These startling revelations lead to immediate and severe consequences—a rapid erosion of trust that shifts the group’s dynamics, prompting emotional confrontations and unsettling truths about one another.

How does the second swap intensify the drama in It’s What’s Inside?

The second round of body swaps escalates existing tensions and introduces new threats. The group, reluctantly agreeing to try again to resolve misunderstandings, faces dire consequences when Reuben and Brooke, now in Dennis and Maya’s bodies, tragically die after an impulsive romantic fall from a balcony. This devastating incident catapults the group into chaos as they are forced to confront the grim possibility of being permanently trapped in another’s body.

The harsh reality of their predicament sinks in, and the psychological suffering that accompanies being stuck in someone else’s body heightens their desperation as they scramble to discover a way back to their original selves.

What reveals the true nature of the machine in It’s What’s Inside?

The true purpose of the body-swapping machine is unveiled through Beatrice, who has masterminded her revenge while posing as Forbes. Her manipulative scheme masterminds the swaps, specifically targeting her former friends, particularly Dennis, for past grievances. The shocking revelation alters the group’s perception, as they initially viewed the device as a harmless gimmick.

Beatrice’s ability to control the body swaps reveals the sinister potential of the technology as she executes her plan to leave her former friends in disarray and escape in a different body with financial security.

How do the survivors cope with the aftermath of the balcony accident in It’s What’s Inside?

In the aftermath of the balcony tragedy, the group’s reaction unveils their core characters and true priorities. With two friends dead, the survivors are pushed to confront tough decisions regarding loyalty, hardship, and the will to survive.

Some advocate for reverting to their original bodies to honor their deceased friends, while others see an opportunity to escape their pasts and embark on new lives with different identities.

What does the ending mean for each character in It’s What’s Inside?

The film’s climax leads viewers to question the fate of each character as Beatrice successfully carries out her plan, escaping with the body-swapping machine. Shelby and Cyrus, seemingly restored to their original bodies, must confront a new reality.

Shelby’s visit to Cyrus in jail—where he takes the rap for the tragic accidents—highlights the irreversible changes in their relationship and lives. The ending emphasizes the lasting consequences of their choices and actions.

This conclusion leaves viewers with the unsettling thought of potential chaos continuing beyond the film’s end. With Beatrice now in Nikki’s body, possessing a new identity and resources, she could sustain her vengeful saga, showcasing the eerie power of technology to disrupt not just identity but moral boundaries.

It’s What’s Inside is now streaming on Netflix.

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