Customer Reviews

Inside (Unrated Edition)

5 star:		(78)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Having read a lot of reviews on this movie and a lot of the praise it's getting, I had to try this movie out. And boy am I glad I did.

Let me get this out of the way, I do not THINK you will like this movie if you do not like gore in your movie. Cause there is a lot of it in the end. It's not all gore though cause the movie does start off pretty scary also. There was one scene that seriously made me get an uneasy scared feeling. I don't want to ruin it though so I won't mention it here. There were also scenes that made me feel uneasy in a different way... as in a `turn your head and don't look at that gore' way.

Ok now that that is out there, the movie starts out with a car wreck that's already happened. We see a woman, Sarah, bloodied and barely alive. Her dead husband or boyfriend (I can't remember) is next to her in the passenger seat. Sarah is also pregnant.

We see Sarah later at the doc's office. She's getting her baby looked at and is told they'll be inducing labor the next day. She looks miserable, and it's because of her lost love, not her new kid, who I don't think she even cares about anymore.

That night she is visited by a stranger at the door. And we, the viewer, are visited by a really good scary/gory movie. I thought the mood of the movie turned over from a little boring to unnerving to suspenseful to shocking to crazy in exactly the right moments and it was done so well. The atmosphere of the house is so claustrophobic that I constantly found myself having a hard time breathing. You want her to run, but you know she cant just make a break for it for two reason. No room and a big prego belly.

Now there are some things that didn't make sense that might turn some people into haters. For instance...the bathroom door was really easy to pierce with a pair of scissors and a glass shard, but was able to stand up to a bunch of kicks trying to knock it down. Also the cops were pretty stupid. And there are a few other things. But who cares. The movie was fun and did what I think it wanted to try and do. Scare you... and gross you out.

Scary AND gory. Great movie.


P.S. Did anyone see the number on the house that this happened at? I did....666. hehe

P.P.S The French walk REEEAAALLLY slow when they are leaving a hospital and talking to a friend.

Well, I guess I can start off this review by saying that this is solid proof that Euro-Horror and it's director's are so far ahead of us Americans when it comes to the horror genre. While our studios are continuing to crank out remakes, and basically recycling stuff that have sat in the can for years - it are the European filmmakers who are out there whipping up new and imaginative ideas like they usually do.

From French Directing duo, Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury, comes INSIDE, a film that exploits a subject that surely has to be any mother's nightmare - having their child taken away from them. Now, I suppose that this would be hard for any mother, regardless the age of the child - but it has to be that much harder when the child is still in womb. In the film, we watch the main character go through the trauma of losing her husband to a crash. After the aftermath of the situation, she still keeps her sanity, just knowing that a piece of him remains, in the form of their unborn. What the Directors do here, is, well....wreck that sanity she has left, and they do it brutally. There is a mysterious woman hell bent on claiming Sarah's baby as her own. Whether she's have to kill Sarah, or just blatantly extract it from her womb, she is bound to finally become a mother herself.

INSIDE is definitely a thrill ride from the beginning to end....it's one of those "you'll never see what's coming next" kind of films. I must say that the realistic gore in the film is just fantastic and brutal, it adds more tension to any already intense situation - but the fact of the matter is that through the course of this film we watch an innocent woman(Sarah) go through absolute hell, while fighting to keep her and her beloved child alive,

The production value and direction here are great, and really capture all of the tense moments. For the most part, the film has but only one location, which is Sarah's house. I have always said that the one location thing could be a disaster (Bug (Special Edition) anyone?), but if they're handled correctly. a primary set could be the best thing to happen to a film. In the case of INSIDE, having one location works out very well as in conveys the feeling of being trapped from the point of view of our victim. And like many films of the same type. you do expect everything to dull down after awhile, but truth is, once this film gets to the subject of it's plot, there are very few dull moments, as the special effects alone are enough to have you glued to your seat. And another thing about the film is it's visual effects - I loved the CGI shots of the baby in the womb.

In the end, there's a reason that INSIDE was released under the DIMENSION EXTREME label; it is extreme, violent, brutal and just about every other adjective that you can think to call it - the scary thing is that the film's subject is one that could happen anywhere in the world or any day of the week.

I suppose I'll start the praise mildly by saying that this is probably the greatest horror film of the new century(Session 9, High Tension, and The Descent being it's only real competition)... to which you reply, "horror since 2000 has been terrible anyway so big deal." Okay then, what if I said that this is one of the greatest horror films... ever? Got your attention now I bet! Inside is the latest in a line of French horror movies that have provided the goods(the aforementioned High Tension, Them, and the upcoming Frontiers are a few) that American directors should take note of(instead they're too busy searching out their next film to remake and slap a PG-13 rating on). The premise here is a simple yet incredibly intense one; a pregnant woman very near expectancy, alone on a rainy night, with a madwoman who will stop at nothing to take her unborn baby from her. The who, how, and why just add to the unrelenting experience... but not before the buckets of blood rain down! The gorehounds out there will be far from dissapointed, in fact, our lead suffers a brutal attack from a BIG pair of scissors to get the film rolling nicely... leaving a nasty looking gash across her mouth and face for the rest of the film. Nearly every moment of bloodshed pushes the envelope of not only "good taste" but also brutality(the way it should be). The icing on the cake comes in the form of excellent direction that provides tension as well as some really cool effects(most notably what they do with sound during the kills). Frightening, gory, and disturbing are all words that fit this movie perfectly, and in the recent horror genre don't find themselves being used as much as most of us would like them to be. Make no mistake, this is far from "fun" horror... there are no sly in-jokes or moments of levity... this is the scene from The Exorcist where Regen uses a crucifix to do the unthinkable to herself, just spread into an hour and a half. In other words, it's an instant classic that no horror fan should miss(and it gets Dimension Extreme off the hook for a lot of the trash that they have dropped on our laps prior). *VIEWERS BEWARE* I heard that the cut of the film that Blockbuster is renting out is edited down by an unbelievable 7 whole minutes so steer clear of that version!

This is one of the most stomach-churning movies I've ever seen, but if you like gore, this movie's the best! The whole movie basically takes place in a house, but it's so intense that you're on the edge of your seat the entire time. It's rare to have a woman be the villain, but this woman is psychotic and more frightening than most male villains. Not for the squeemish, but definitely worth a look.

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

À l'intérieur (2007/8)

'À l'intérieur' is the much-talked-about release from first-time writer/director Alexandre Bustillo (the man behind the upcoming 2009 'Hellraiser' reboot). The film, a brutal one to say the least, focuses on a pregnant woman who becomes the subject of a mysterious and violent stalker. Moving from a startling open scene with a violently damaged foetus to a rather bloody mess of a fatal car accident which seriously injures our star, Sarah (played by Alysson Paradis, sister of Johnny Depp's partner, Vanessa) and kills the father, Matthieu (Jean-Baptiste Tabourin).

The actual plot starts four months later (which seems a bit surprising as Sarah's baby bump was already looking like a baby hill at the time of the wreck, and she's just now arriving near her due date). The disturbed Sarah, an action photographer for the local journal, suffers from some seriously odd dreams involving vomiting up copious amounts of some milky substance, CGI black cats and birthing her child, err, incorrectly . It's after one of these nightmares that Sarah meets the terrifying Femme (Béatrice Dalle) at her, Sarah's, front door. Sarah, perturbed by the oddities of the meeting and La Femme's resistance to leave, phones the police. Here, we learn one important thing: French police ACTUALLY care! In most American films (and real-life situations), a late-night distress call about a nuisance at your door would usually result in one officer driving by the house hours too late. In France, however, three cops arrive quickly, do a full check of the premises, AND a follow up. Now THAT is civil service! Unfortunately for Sarah, however, this fine police work doesn't stop La Femme from a series of gruesome attacks on Sarah, her unborn child, and a couple more people (and animals) she holds dear to her. The film continues on for the majority like that. . . torture, attacks, and lots of blood. And, while it sounds like 90% of horror films from the past few years, it's not. At all. There's something special about this one.

For a film that primarily takes place in three rooms of one house, À l'intérieur is one of the most powerful and disturbing films to come along in a long, long time. It's only made more intense by some fantastic acting by victim (Alysson Paradis) and attacker (Béatrice Dalle) and some very realistic gore. . . not to mention one of the most fantastically insane and cringe-inducing endings in cinematic history.

All horror filmmakers and fans looking for the perfect way to make a modern torture or vengeance film should study this one intently, because this is as close as you'll find. . .

Final Verdict: 9.5/10.

INSIDE (2007) is a French horror-thriller directed by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury. I've read that these two directors were supposedly poised to direct the upcoming "Hellraiser" remake in 2009. I'm not quite sure as to why they are no longer on board for that project, and from what I've seen from this film, the two young filmmakers can definitely repulse even the most experienced movie watcher in the way "Inside" focuses in blood and gore. I have a very strong stomach and nothing bothers me; I can stand the most gruesome images and violence as long as there is emotional content. I have not seen a lot of French horror, but one thing I can say is that if this film is any indication, the French can make "Hostel" and the "Saw" franchise seem like a kid flick. It feels like a homage to the 70's and 80's exploitive gore flicks.

Synopsis partially derived from the dvd back cover:
Four months after a pregnant woman named Sarah loses her husband in a horrific car accident, she is visited on Christmas eve by a mysterious madwoman. Alone and desperate to save herself and her unborn child, Sarah fights to stay alive as each of her potential rescuers dies at the sadistic woman's hands.

Extremely violent, bleak and brutal would be the best words to describe this film. The directors rely on violent imagery to totally immerse the viewer into intense thrills. Blood and gore are omnipresent throughout that gore fans will definitely have reason to celebrate. "Inside" definitely tries to push the limits of blood and violence, the subject is focused to give the viewer an uncomfortable sensation. I rather enjoy exploring those places, the dark thematic affairs that make most people turn away. This film may be great for what it is trying to do, but I personally found that it lacked an insightful vision to truly deliver pure effective suspense. It is a straight-forward gore flick that never lets up on the violent graphic details that it felt like a gore show.

Sarah (Allison Paradis) is a woman with little known origins. All I knew about her from the start is that she is pregnant, a photographer, have just survived a car accident and has been widowed by the selfsame accident. Surely, a pregnant woman who had just gone through all these tragedies would automatically promote sympathy and empathy; especially when her one safe haven (her home) has been invaded by a maniacal woman (played by Beatrice Dalle). A pregnant woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown being held prisoner at her own home is truly disturbing and the filmmakers spare no attempts to make the audience feel her pain by visual brutal violence. All the violence that happens to Sarah happens on camera, and on that effect alone, I was more repulsed than impressed. "Inside" is a genre film, and to call it a horror thriller is an understatement; it is a sadistic motion picture. It expresses violence against women and what is more disturbing is that the violence is done by another woman. (and others)

Just who is this unnamed woman and what does she want? This is where it gets interesting and quite frankly, the film's best asset. Beatrice Dalle's character is creepy, demented and truly enigmatic. Although in the first half of the film, she seemed to be a little too "cardboard" for me, quite a bit "uniformed" to be dressed in a black outfit with an unsettling feel. The woman is a "genre" character so the success of the villain is all a matter of tone and execution. Dalle's antagonistic character may be more at home with exploitation and highly stylized horror films. Thankfully, her links with Sarah's past may prove to be the film's biggest surprise and will leave folks in awe but it has been marred by a huge plot hole. There are actually some faults in the screenplay such as Sarah's bathroom door; the lock seemed too flimsy that the stalker shouldn't have any problems breaking it open.

"Inside" is a film that expresses itself through its own bleakness. Unfortunately, suspense is almost none-existent as its tone and execution telegraphs the inevitability of its horrific outcome. The style is bleak, the cinematography is bleak, the film's set up itself is an exclamation point that the worst will happen, but you just have to root for the protagonist. It was the directors' intention; to promote automatic empathy for Sarah. Sadly, they overlooked its dramatic potential and they opted to settle for the use of violent imagery to generate sympathy. There are also some scenes that looked a little too stretched out that made them look like minor "fillers" to induce intensity. Actress Allison Paradis does an impressive performance as the character very much in pain and emotional collapse; while Beatrice Dalle's delivers a very creepy, frightening portrayal of our mystery woman .

Overall, "Inside" is more successful as a "gorefest" than a great addition to horror-thrillers (this isn`t a bad thing). The film is an effective "gross-out" feature film that is sadistic, brutal and unrelenting in its execution of violence. If what the directors are looking for is to repulse and shock audiences then they succeed hands down. However, if you are looking for pure, unadulterated suspense that can really get under your skin in a different way, look somewhere else. Folks who enjoy onscreen excessive violence and gore will embrace this film, but sadly it barely made it for me. It had all the dramatic potential but the film just became a vehicle for grim, dark scenarios with a lot of mindless bloodshed. True, the twist at the climax that explains Dalle's behavior may add some "punch", but it feels like a throwaway detail because of the huge hole in the plot. It felt like a gimmick that takes a stab at the audience; "did you see that coming?"...I did, unfortunately.

I do commend the filmmakers that they did have the guts to follow through its very bleak and violent execution; that they knew exactly what they wanted to do and they weren`t pretentious about it at all.

Recommended timidly, rent it first. [3 ½ Stars]

For contrasting opinions on the film, check out Dave K. and D. Wilson's reviews, they both have written excellent reviews of the film.
Congratulations if you made it this far.

it took a while to finally check this one out, despite all the hype, but im glad i finally did. in the relm of horror, this has it all. theres tons of suspence at times, while the killer stalks and sneeks. she has a very ghost-like presence, fading into the shadows. plenty of awsome kills, with a cringe worthy moment or two. they did a really good job on the blood and gore. i was wandering what all could really be done with a pair of scissors but.. ill just say she's creative. plus a couple other items are used throughout the movie.

the acting was good all around, although the english dubbing could've had better voice actors in a couple spots. the camera work was good, helping add to the suspence and shadowy presence of the antagonist.

there really isnt a lot of story here. you can get basically the whole plot minus the villains identity off the back of the case. the main character was in a car accident which killed her husband. now its christmas eve, shes about due to have her baby, and theres a stranger at the door. things are about to escalate far beyond what could've possibly her worst fears, and you are about to enter one of the most tense, bloodsoaked thrillrides of your life.

Horror fans - watch it now! you wont be disappointed

Directors Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo's INSIDE (original title: À L'INTÉRIEUR) has proven once again that if anyone has their mutilated finger pressed firmly to the pulse of horror, it's the French. This scribe hasn't seen anything quite this cinematically dangerous since their countryman Gaspar Noé's gut-punch of a flick IRREVERISIBLE, and like that film, INSIDE proves to be a rollercoaster gone off the gore-drenched rails, as well as a film that, while paying homage to the slasher film, redefines the genre itself. Kudos to LA's Screamfest for helping expose this Euro masterpiece to the U.S. masses.

Written by Bustillo, INSIDE has an opening setup that is familiar enough to horror cineastes: A young married couple are involved in a horrific car accident on a rainy country lane, one which the husband doesn't survive. Four months later, his pregnant widow Sarah (portrayed with astounding commitment by actress and sister-in-law to Johnny Depp Alysson Paradis) is scheduled for induced labor. Still mourning the loss of her husband and in a disconnected emotional state, Sarah decides, much to the chagrin of her mother, to spend Christmas Eve alone in preparation for the following morning's birth. It is here where things shift gears following a simple knock on her door, and while savvy audiences will certainly ascertain the identity of the (soon-to-be malevolent) stranger (this scribe did, even before the visually stunning opening credits rolled by), it's the clever road of carnage leading up to--and after--the reveal that will keep those with strong stomachs in their seats, and perhaps drive those with lesser fortitude to a state of nausea.

Pure and simple, the conceit is that Sarah's visitor wants her unborn baby, and isn't content to wait for its natural birth; the intruder's pair of 10-inch shears prove undeniable testament to that. Portrayed with acute gravity by Beatrice Dalle and billed simply as "La Femme" (a nod to John Carpenter's "The Shape"?), this villainess is an altogether terrifying amalgamation of covetous, bloody and remorseless savagery.

More importantly, both women's emotional states and motivations ring true, and thus so does the narrative. However far Maury, Bustillo and producers Véran Frédiani and Franck Ribière push the envelope (and in fact break it), the proceedings, beyond one or two leaps of logic in the third act, carry the audience along effortlessly. There is something raw, familiar and human here, with each character's respective motivations nuanced and believable, and as a result the already red-lined suspense attains an intensity not seen in many years, with an ending that's entirely unpredictable and unquestionably grim.

Assisting considerably in the tension department are cinematographer Laurent Bares and composer Francois Eudes, who together lend an element of dreadful class to the flick, carrying the audience from the at-first womblike confines of Sarah's home to the charnel house it becomes. Bares channels Carpenter's approach to HALLOWEEN in his framing, utilizing negative space and expressionistic lighting to spectacular effect, while Eudes takes a cue from the minimalist synthesized score of Carpenter's classic and delivers an aural component that is at times lulling and at others entirely unnerving.

As for the carnage on display, makeup FX supervisor Jacques-Olivier Molon and visual FX overseers Rodolphe Guglielmi and Bourdonnay Judikael deliver the goods and then some. A self-induced tracheotomy, a partial decapitation by gunshot, an unsettling homage to David Lynch's BLUE VELVET and various burnings, bludgeonings and stabbings, as well as the pièce de résistance (which I won't give away, and must be seen to be believed) are all delivered with such organic viscera that it's nearly overwhelming. The French have apparently perfected the consistency and palate of stage blood; never before has arterial spray looked so damned...real (which is most likely why Dimension snapped it up for straight-to-DVD release via its genre-centric Extreme imprint; there's no way this flick would garner anything less than an NC-17 from the MPAA).

Vive la France!

See it.

- Sean Decker / Fangoria Magazine

ok so i randomly came across the clip of the scissors murder scene in youtube and decided i needed to check the movie out cause that murder is one of the most original murders i've seen in a long time. im not gonna comment on actors,acting,story or style of director. this movie is crazy,it's extremely violent and gorie and it never leds up. it's the most violent movie i have ever seen besides irreversible!! i ended up buying it although the first time i saw it it was actually difficult to keep my eyes on the screen

Plot in a nutshell- The night before a very-pregnant woman is scheduled to have her baby delivered, she gets a strange visit. Terror insues.

Entertaining but Sick. Started off great (really great) then kind of runs out of steam near the end and just becomes an excuse for a lot of gore. Plot begins to run paper thin in the last half hour. I'd say if it wasn't for the pure stupidity of the french police officers, "Inside" would have been a much better movie. Either way its well worth a watch for any fan of gore.
*"Inside" is a French flick with options for English subtitles as well as English dubbing. (The dubbing was pretty crappy just to warn you.)