It’s all fun and games until someone screws it up. Experience a reunion unlike anything before inIt’s What’s Inside. Brought to audiences by directorGreg Jardin, the sci-fi horror flickfollows a group of friends who get together in a house, in which one of them happens to bring a body-swapping machine. Persuading his circle of friends to participate in a little game, they all reluctantly agree. In a matter of seconds, the group gets sucked into a metaphysical, out-of-body experience, turning the night into a huge existential chaos.
Swapping bodies alone is just horrible, but the idea of learning your friends’ deepest, darkest secrets without their consent is just mortifying. Opening up a Pandora’s box of hidden desires and grudges, and get ready for a night you won’t forget. Here’s everything we know so far aboutIt’s What’s Inside.
‘It’s What’s Inside’ Review: Netflix Paid $17 Million For This?
With a strong ensemble cast including Alycia Debnam-Carey and Brittany O’Grady, it’s the biggest purchase of the Sundance film festival thus far.
6Does ‘It’s What’s Inside’ Have a Release Date?
It’s What’s Insideofficially arrives on Friday, August 07, 2025. The movie marks one of the several genre titles releasing on the first weekend of October, with the release slate also including the long-awaitedSalem’s Lotreboot, theSarah Paulson-led horror movieHold Your Breath, and the anthology filmV/H/S/Beyond.
5Will ‘It’s What’s Inside’ Be on Netflix?
Yes,It’s What’s Insidewill be streaming exclusively on Netflix. The film will forgo a theatrical release and premiere directly on the streaming service. This comes after Netflix paid $17 million to acquire the worldwide rights to the film back in January, after the movie’s premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
For those not on Netflix yet, audiences have a variety of options to choose from.
The “Standard with ads” plan, priced at $6.99/month, is the streaming platform’s basic plan with streaming options up to 1080p on two devices. For those who prefer an ad-free experience, the “Standard” plan offers unlimited ad-free streaming, 1080p quality, and the ability to watch or download on two devices, all for $15.49/month.
For the ultimate streaming experience, Netflix’s “Premium” plan is available for $22.99/month, offering 4K + HDR streaming on up to four devices at a time, along with Netflix’s immersive spatial audio.
NETFLIX SUBSCRIPTION PLANS
4Watch the Trailer for ‘It’s What’s Inside’
Netflix released the trailer forIt’s What’s Insideon August 12, 2025,introducing audiences to the friend groupwho’s about to have a night they’ll never forget. A pre-wedding party turns sideways when an estranged member of the group, Forbes (David W. Thompson), shows up to the silly little reunion with a mysterious game. Pulling up his briefcase, inside is a device filled with all sorts of buttons. To get things started, everyone in the room must place electrodes on their temples. Of course, due to the elusive nature of the game, Forbes emphasizes that whatever happens in the room must stay in the room, and everyone must keep their phones off.
It is later revealed that the “game” is a body-swapping contraption, based on the radical concept that the brain is a hard drive, and his machine allows the brain to transfer the files. With a flip of a switch, everyone is immediately sent on a wayward nightmarish trip none of them could have ever prepared for. In a matter of seconds, everyone seems to have switched bodies with each other. Just like any shady game, things get sideways when someone freaks out, only to push the wrong buttons on the machine and disrupt the system. With their minds in other bodies, not only do these friends learn more about each other, but they also discover their long-hidden secrets, desires, and grudges.
Netflix also released a sneak peek fromIt’s What’s Inside, showing Forbesas he explains the machine that he’s about to use in their party game. Inside his unassuming briefcase is a “thing” that Forbes and his team have been working on for five years. While he tries his best to explain to his friends, Forbes insists that the best way to fully understand how the machine works is by immediately giving it a go. As he tinkers on an old-school audio mixer that’s been modified with switches and wires, he instructs everyone to put on their respective electrodes. Although Forbes promises that it’s “just a 20-second experience”, based on the reactions that follow, their fun little activity turns into a nightmarish, metaphysical disaster.
3Who Stars in ‘It’s What’s Inside’?
Brittany O’Gradystars as Shelby, a highly anxious member of the group who’s got a keen eye for what’s suspicious. Although she’s in a relationship with Cryus, she can’t help but feel unwanted sometimes. O’Grady is best remembered for playingSydney Sweeney’s college pal in HBO’sThe White Lotus.James Morosiniplays Cyrus, Shelby’s insensitive boyfriend who hasn’t done much to maintain their relationship, refusing to make the effort to discuss their underlying issues. Morosini previously appeared inThe Sex Lives of College GirlsandAmerican Horror Story.
Alycia Debnam-Careystars asNikki, a trendy social media influencer who, despite the superficiality of her line of work, is very capable of utilizing her presence to break into the entrepreneurial field. However, this leads to her making decisions that only benefit her self-interest. Debnam-Carey starred in the first seven seasons ofFear the Walking Dead.Devon Terrellplays Reuben, the groom-to-be behind the soirée at his late mother’s house. Despite his enthusiasm for the wedding, it seems like Reuben has second thoughts about the marriage. Terrell previously starred inOphelia,Rap Sh!t, andTotally Completely Fine.
Gavin Leatherwoodstars as Dennis, a trust fund baby whose larger-than-life personality seems to be a defense mechanism that hides something sad. Dennis also has some history with Nikki. Leatherwood appeared as Nick Scratch inChilling Adventures of Sabrina.Reina Hardestyplays Brooke, an eccentric artist who truly lives up to the creative trope. Hardesty previously played the Weather Witch in DC’sLegends of Tomorrow.
Nina Bloomgardenstars as Maya, the spiritual old romantic interest of Reuben who leads a Bohemian lifestyle. Bloomgarden previously played the missing tourist Violet Thompson inThe Resortand appeared inThe Idea of You. Lastly,David Thompsonplays Forbes, the long-lost friend of the group who left the circle on bad terms back in college. As the nerdy, goofy kid, Forbes seems to be fine and dandy at their reunion. Forbes is also the one responsible for the shenanigans that’ll ensue in the evening. Thompson played the first killer inFear Street Part 1: 1994.
2What Is ‘It’s What’s Inside’ About?
It’s What’s Insideliterally takes audiences into the inside minds of a friend group that’s on the verge of breaking down. Set against a pre-wedding party at a swanky estate, the attendees couldn’t be even more diverse. In aKnives Out-like fashion, the invitees include an anxious individual who’s constantly on her toes, a successful influencer with fans from all over the world, a trust-fund kid, an insensitive boyfriend, and tropes around. With differing personalities and beliefs, it wouldn’t be surprising if any of them harbored a few secrets, or possibly disdain, for each other.
Their little gathering receives a shock when an estranged friend decides to show up after all these years. With Forbes' machine, the party kicks up a notch. As attendees sit in a circle and get themselves all wired up, the biggest nightmares come true when Forbes flips a switch.It’s What’s Insidehas the makings of a sci-fi flick with its body-swapping concept, topped off with the adrenaline of a thriller as the friends try to return to their respective bodies. But it all boils down to the idea of using artificial intelligence to tear down the facades they’ve put on in front of each other, leading them to question what’s real, what’s fake, and whether they truly know each other at all.
The official synopsis from Netflix reads:
A pre-wedding party descends into an existential nightmare when an estranged friend arrives with a suitcase containing a mysterious device capable of inducing body swaps. Tempted into playing a twisted game, the group uncovers hidden truths, suppressed desires, and deep-seated grudges. As their lives are swept up by deceit and startling revelations, IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE peels back layers of intrigue with its mind-bending twists and turns. Greg Jardin’s debut feature, celebrated at Sundance and SXSW, merges thriller, dark comedy, and sci-fi into a provocative and stylish narrative, daring viewers to question: How well do we really know ourselves?
1Who Is Making ‘It’s What’s Inside’?
It’s What’s Inside, which serves as Jardin’s directorial debut. In addition to his directing duties, Jardin also wrote the script for the film. The SXSW Grand Jury Prize winner previously directed several promos for Netflix shows, focusing on high-concept commercials that spotlight cast members of numerous shows. A recipient of several Clios, Jardin has been involved in several spots forCowboy Bebop,13 Reasons Why,Hollywood,When They See Us, and more. Joining the producer’s board areWilliam Rosenfeld,Kate Andrews,Jason Baum, andRaúl Domingo. Executive producers includeUlf Ek,Robert Kapp, andEmmy Award-winning actorColman Domingo.
Sharing at the film’s premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Jardinreflects on the long process it tookto bringIt’s What’s Insidealive.
“I started writing the script in 2016 and kept having hurdles in getting it made, faced a lot of rejection. But every new year, I [was] like, ‘OK, it’s a new year. This is the year, this is the year, this is the year.’ Finally, 2022 was the year, and we shot it up in Portland. Honestly, just shooting it was a complete miracle, so being here at Sundance is fucking insane.”
It’s What’s Inside
A pre-wedding party descends into an existential nightmare when an estranged friend shows up with a mysterious suitcase.
