Netflix’s new horror film It’s What’s Inside is a horror-comedy that mixes in several key horror tropes. For one, the film has the element of a game gone wrong. When an estranged friend in a friend group at a pre-wedding party brings a device that can allow participants to swap bodies, it starts as a fun game. However, once those bodies are actually switched — and switched back again — the game does not seem as fun anymore as chaos ensues.
In this plot structure, It’s What’s Inside uses two key elements: a game gone wrong and the body-swap. Both elements are oft-used devices for horror and comedy, both of which are genre umbrellas that It’s What’s Inside falls into. Body-swap movies span comedies such as Freaky Friday and Jumanji: The Next Level, as well as horror movies such as Freaky. This subgenre and the games gone wrong device are both elements that make It’s What’s Inside unique, but there are numerous other films with similar elements that are well worth watching.
10 Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
An A24 Horror Film With A Deadly Game
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Bodies Bodies Bodies RComedyHorrorThriller
Bodies Bodies Bodies is a comedy/horror/thriller from 2 AM. When Bee (Maria Bakalova) travels to a hurricane party with her girlfriend Sophie (Amanda Stenberg), they find themselves surrounded by affluent 20-somethings with very different world views. When the party finally kicks off amidst the coming storm, the debauchery leads to a game of “Bodies Bodies Bodies.” However, when a power outage occurs during the game, and a murder occurs in its stead, the party takes a turn for the deadly.
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*Availability in US Director Halina Reijn Release Date August 5, 2022 Writers Sarah DeLappe , Kristen Roupenian Cast Pete Davidson , Maria Bakalova , Rachel Sennott , Chase Sui Wonders , Amandla Stenberg , Lee Pace , Myha’la Herrold Runtime 95 minutes Studio(s) A24 Distributor(s) A24 Expand
Bodies Bodies Bodies is a 2022 A24 horror film that, like It’s What’s Inside, is set in a party environment. However, this party is a hurricane party, wherein a group of young adult friends lock themselves away in a mansion during a major storm. During their hurricane party, the friends decide to play the eponymous party game “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” wherein there is a secret killer among them that the group must discover. Things go wrong, however, when the game starts to become a blood-soaked reality.
It’s What’s Inside is similar in that it also shows a party game warped out of proportion. Beyond the game, however, the films are similar in that they both explore the underlying tensions within a once close-knit friend group. Bodies Bodies Bodies does not have a body swap element at its core, but nonetheless relies on games as a key factor, making it a great pick for those interested in the drama and game element of It’s What’s Inside.
9 Talk To Me (2023)
A True Horror Where A Mysterious Object Is Misused
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8.5/10 Talk to Me RHorrorThriller
While trying to cope with the death of her mother, Mia (Sophie Wilde) becomes enthralled with an embalmed hand that can conjure spirits. While Mia and her group of friends get a thrill out of communicating with spirits, things go too far when Mia doesn’t close the door to the other side.
Director Danny Philippou , Michael Philippou Release Date July 28, 2023 Writers Bill Hinzman , Danny Philippou Cast Sophie Wilde , Joe Bird , Alexandra Jensen , Otis Dhanji , Miranda Otto , Marcus Johnson Runtime 94 minutes Distributor(s) A24 Expand
A year after releasing Bodied Bodies Bodies, A24 came out with Talk to Me. The 2023 movie explores a group of friends who discover a mysterious embalmed hand that allows them to contact the spirit realm. Similar to the case of It’s What’s Inside, things seem to be fun and games until a member of the group accidentally unleashes something far more sinister.
Talk To Me is regularly deemed one of the best horror films of 2023, so it is worth watching for genre fans on that basis alone. More specifically to It’s What’s Inside, however, Talk to Me also features some kind of non-human device as the agent of chaos for its horror. While the consequences of said device’s use differ in the two films, this overlap likens It’s What’s Inside to Talk To Me.
8 Ready Or Not (2019)
A Radio Silence Splatter Horror Movie
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Ready or Not RHorrorComedyThriller
In Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s 2019 black comedy Ready Or Not, newlywed bride Grace Le Domas participates in a violent game of hide-and-seek with her fiancé’s family, who attempt to kill her during her wedding night as part of a long-standing ritual. The film stars Samara Weaving as Grace, Mark O’Brien as Grace’s husband Alex, Adam Brody as Alex’s brother Daniel, Andie MacDowell as their mother Becky, and Henry Czerny, Melanie Scrofano, Kristian Bruun, and Elyse Levesque as other members of the murderous family.
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*Availability in US Director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin , Tyler Gillett Release Date August 21, 2019 Writers R. Christopher Murphy , Guy Busick Cast Nat Faxon , Kate Ziegler , Elyse Levesque , Chase Churchill , Elana Dunkelman , Andie MacDowell , Liam MacDonald , Mark O’Brien , Nicky Guadagni , Adam Brody , Henry Czerny , Ethan Tavares , Kristian Bruun , Melanie Scrofano , Samara Weaving , Etienne Kellici , John Ralston Runtime 95 minutes Studio(s) Mythology Entertainment , Vinson Films , Radio Silence Productions Distributor(s) Fox Searchlight Pictures Expand
Ready Or Not is a film by the horror film trio Radio Silence. Released in 2019, the Samara Weaving-led dark comedy tells the story of a wedding night that takes a dramatic turn when the bride’s new in-laws-to-be have her take part in a chilling game. This film is classified as both a dark comedy and a splatter horror film, containing intense amounts of blood.
Related Every Radio Silence Movie, Ranked Worst To Best
Scream 2022 directors Radio Silence impressed horror fans with Ready or Not, but how do the rest of their efforts in the genre compare to each other?
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There are several reasons why Ready Or Not is a great next step for fans of It’s What’s Inside. The Radio Silence film not only has a similar game-gone-wrong concept, but it also has a similar backdrop. Ready Or Not takes place at an actual wedding, whereas It’s What’s Inside is set the day before. While this leads to physically distinct settings, the marriage looming in the background of the film’s horror is prevalent in both films, making Ready Or Not a good watch in conjunction with It’s What’s Inside.
7 Freaky (2020)
A Horror Take On Freaky Friday
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9/10 Freaky RThrillerHorrorComedy
Freaky is a film directed by Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day 2U) and centers around a young girl in high school that swaps bodies with a deranged serial killer. When four teenagers are found dead, the Blissfield Butcher’s re-emergence has made the town somewhat on alert. While waiting for her ride home at the end of a football game, Millie Kessler is attacked by the butcher with a mysterious dagger called La Dola, which then swaps the two into one another’s bodies in a Freaky Friday-like fashion. Millie discovers that to get back to her original body, she needs to get her friends and family to believe that their bodies have swapped – and she needs to reverse the ritual in twenty-four hours, or the switch will remain permanent.
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*Availability in US Director Christopher Landon Release Date November 13, 2020 Writers Michael Kennedy , Christopher Landon Cast Misha Osherovich , Vince Vaughn , Celeste O’Connor , Kathryn Newton , Uriah Shelton , Dana Drori , Alan Ruck , Katie Finneran Runtime 102 Minutes Main Genre Horror Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Expand
Freaky honors the legacy of one of the most classic Body Swap films, Freaky Friday. Instead of a mom and her teenage daughter, however, the body switch in Freaky sees a maniacal serial killer switch bodies with a high-school senior girl. Throughout the film, the now-middle-aged-man-bodied Millie must fight to switch back and regain control of her own body before it is too late.
Unlike some of the other films on this list, Freaky does not include a game at the center of its plot. Instead, Freaky’s biggest similarity with It’s What’s Inside is that it is also a body swap-based thriller. It’s What’s Inside swaps to much wackier proportions, but both films find physical humor like their swaps. This provides comedic levity to both movies in a way that is similarly appealing in their thriller plots.
6 Ouija: Origin Of Evil (2016)
The Better Prequel To 2014’s Ouija
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7/10 Ouija: Origin of Evil PG-13HorrorThriller
Ouija: Origin of Evil is a 2016 prequel to the 2014 Horror film Ouija. Written and directed by Mike Flanagan, the film sees a Medium and her family using a Ouija board to attempt to contact her deceased husband. She ends up making contact with another spirit that begins to possess one of her daughters.
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*Availability in US Director Mike Flanagan Release Date October 21, 2016 Writers Mike Flanagan , Jeff Howard Runtime 99minutes Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Cast Kate Siegel , Doug Jones , Parker Mack , Annalise Basso , Lincoln Melcher , Henry Thomas , Eve Gordon , Lin Shaye , Lulu Wilson , Elizabeth Reaser , Chelsea Gonzalez Expand
Some horror films may invent their mystical games, but others succeed by riffing off of existing games. Such is the case with the Ouija series, which tackles horror narratives by centering around the famous Ouija Board, which involves using a letter board to supposedly contact the spirit realm. Ouija: Origin of Evil is the prequel to 2014’s Ouija, which is set in 1967 and tells the story of a mother and her daughters who promote their scam seance business with a new stunt.
In some ways, the first Ouija is more comparable to It’s What’s Inside than Ouija: Origin of Evil. After all, it also centers around a group of friends, thus crafting a similar dynamic to that of It’s What’s Inside. Ouija: Origin of Evil, however, is a far superior film to Ouija. It is helmed by legendary horror director Mike Flanagan, and his skill in the genre is evident throughout. Ouija: Origin of Evil still has a mystical game element that It’s What’s Inside fans will enjoy, even if it does not have the same interpersonal dynamic between its characters.
5 M3GAN (2023)
A Sci-Fi Horror About A Corrupted AI Doll
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6.3/10 M3GAN PG-13Horror Sci-FiThriller
M3GAN tells the story of a lifelike robotic doll who arrives in a little girl’s life to help her cope with the death of her parents. As the young Cady befriends the robot, its designer, Cady’s aunt Gemma, realizes her self-aware invention is too dangerous to be kept alive. Blumhouse’s 2022 horror phenomenon mixes Chucky’s creepy inclination for violence with the Terminator’s unstoppable nature to craft a terrifying look at the dangers of Artificial Intelligence.
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*Availability in US Director Gerald Johnstone Release Date January 6, 2023 Writers Akela Cooper , James Wan Cast Amie Donald , Kimberley Crossman , Allison Williams , Ronny Chieng , Violet McGraw , Brian Jordan Alvarez Runtime 82 Minutes Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Expand
M3GAN took the horror world by storm when it was released in early 2023. The film tells the story of a robotics engineer named Gemma who suddenly and unexpectedly becomes the caretaker for her niece, Cady, when Cady’s parents die in a tragic car accident. In an attempt to give Cady companionship, Gemma brings home an original creation, an AI robot doll named M3GAN that at first, seems innocent but gradually starts to take over their lives.
M3GAN
is expecting a sequel in
M3GAN 2.0
, which is set for release in June 2025.
M3GAN does not exactly feature a game gone wrong, but it does explore the misuse of a mysterious and seemingly inventive device. M3GAN also leans into the comedy side of its horror comedy, including physical comedy gaffs with M3GAN’s absurd dancing and singing, as well as over-the-top kills. Those who liked the comedic absurdism of It’s What’s Inside will find M3GAN instantly appealing.
4 Tarot (2024)
A Recent Box Office Horror Hit
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Tarot Not RatedHorrorMysteryThriller
The plot centers on a group of college friends who start dying in ways that are related to their fortunes after having their tarot cards read. Before their time runs out, they have to work together to uncover the mystery.
Director Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg Release Date May 3, 2024 Cast Harriet Slater , Jacob Batalon , Avantika Vandanapu , Adain Bradley , Humberly González , Olwen Fouéré , Wolfgang Novogratz , Larsen Thompson Runtime 92 minutes Studio(s) Screen Gems , Alloy Entertainment , Ground Control Distributor(s) Sony Pictures Releasing Writers Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg Main Genre Horror Expand
Tarot was an unexpected horror hit upon its release earlier this year. The film explores the idea of what happens when the rules of a game are broken. In this case, said “game” is Tarot card readings, where a group of friends accidentally breaks the rule that one can never use someone else’s deck. When they break this rule, a terrible fate is unleashed as the evil within the cards is revealed.
Both are good films to watch for those looking to keep up with some of this year’s more niche horror hits.
Tarot‘s reviews were very negative upon its release, getting an 18% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film succeeded at the box office, however, making over $49 million worldwide. Even with its lackluster reviews, the craze surrounding Tarot makes it worth watching for someone coming off of It’s What’s Inside.It’s What’s Inside has also been successful in its Netflix release thus far, so both are good films to watch for those looking to keep up with some of this year’s more niche horror hits.
3 Abigail (2024)
Another Underrated Gem From Radio Silence
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8.5/10 Abigail (2024) RHorrorThriller
Abigail is a 2024 horror thriller directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The plot follows a group of people who kidnap the daughter of a dangerous crime lord only to discover that the little girl is actually a vicious vampire out for blood. Alisha Weir stars as the titular character alongside Kathryn Newton, Melissa Barrera, and Dan Stevens.
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*Availability in US Director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin , Tyler Gillett Release Date April 19, 2024 Writers Stephen Shields , Guy Busick Cast Kathryn Newton , Dan Stevens , Giancarlo Esposito , Kevin Durand , Melissa Barrera , Alisha Weir , Angus Cloud , William Catlett Runtime 109 Minutes Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Main Genre Horror Expand
Like Ready or Not, Abigail is another Radio Silence film on this list. The 2024 movie tells the story of a group of criminals who kidnap a young ballerina and take her to an isolated mansion. This backfires for the group, as they soon realize that the girl, Abigail, is the daughter of Dracula and is thus a bloodthirsty vampire. Abigail finds humor in its over-the-top gore and the balletic sequences interspersed within the film.
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Abigail Cast |
Characters |
|---|---|
|
Melissa Barrera |
Joey |
|
Dan Stevens |
Frank |
|
Alisha Weir |
Abigail |
|
Kathryn Newton |
Sammy |
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William Catlett |
Rickles |
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Kevin Durand |
Peter |
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Angus Cloud |
Dean |
|
Giancarlo Esposito |
Lambert |
|
Matthew Goode |
Kristof Lazar |
Abigail does not have either of the two main subgenre elements of It’s What’s Inside, body swap and games. But the film does share It’s What’s Inside‘s genre sensibilities in infusing comedy alongside its thrills. Both Abigail and It’s What’s Inside also take place predominantly in one location, which can lead to its own kind of fascinating tensions. For these reasons, It’s What’s Inside audiences could easily become Abigail appreciators.
2 Circle (2015)
A Horror Game Immersed In Ethical Dilemmas
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Circle Not RatedDramaHorrorMystery
Circle is a psychological thriller film directed by Aaron Hann and Mario Miscione. Set in a mysterious chamber, the story revolves around a group of 50 strangers who must decide who among them deserves to survive while facing harsh ethical dilemmas. As tensions rise and alliances form, each individual must confront their morality in a high-stakes game of life and death.
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*Availability in US Director Aaron Hann , Mario Miscione Writers Aaron Hann , Mario Miscione Cast Michael Nardelli , Carter Jenkins , Lawrence Kao , Allegra Masters , Julie Benz Runtime 87 Minutes Main Genre Mystery Release Date October 16, 2015 Expand
There are plenty of recent horror tales worth watching after It’s What’s Inside, but a slightly older recommendation is found in 2015’s Circle. This dramatic horror film tells the story of a group of strangers who are forced against their will in a battle of wits and ethics. These 50 people awake in a chamber with circles on the ground, and find out that they have to decide which one of them must live. The rest will die.
Circle is far more dramatic than It’s What’s Inside, and its “game” of sorts is more esoteric in nature. That said, Circle is a great example of taking a deadly game to one of the most extreme and emotionally wrenching levels. It’s What’s Inside has tension between old friends, but Circle dials that up by revealing tension between strangers. They will get to know each other better for the film, but the interpersonal tension is off the charts.
1 Would You Rather (2012)
A Horror Film Whose Game Is Highly Psychological
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Would You Rather (2012) NRThrillerHorror
Would You Rather is a psychological thriller directed by David Guy Levy. The film stars Brittany Snow as Iris, a young woman who competes in a deadly game of “Would You Rather” hosted by the sadistic millionaire Shepard Lambrick, played by Jeffrey Combs. The contestants, all desperate for a financial windfall, must navigate a series of increasingly brutal challenges, testing their morals and survival instincts.
Director David Guy Levy Release Date February 8, 2013 Writers Steffen Schlachtenhaufen Cast Brittany Snow , Jeffrey Combs , Jonny Coyne , Lawrence Gilliard Jr. , Enver Gjokaj Runtime 93 Minutes Main Genre Thriller Studio(s) Periscope Entertainment , Social Construct , Dreamher Productions , Lambrick Foundation , The Expand
Another slightly older horror pick for It’s What’s Inside fans comes in the form of Would You Rather. Would You Rather is a 2012 Brittany Snow film about a young woman who agrees to compete in a game of “Would You Rather” with deadly consequences, in order to save her brother. Would You Rather received less-than-stellar reviews and a limited release, making it one of the more overlooked movies at the time of its release.
The negative reviews of Would You Rather should not scare off horror fans. The film does a great job using a game as its central device, exploring how those external games can torturously toy with one’s own psyche. It’s What’s Inside is less psychologically intimate than Would You Rather, making the 2012 film great for those who like the game trope but are more interested in the horror aspect of a gamified world.
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7/10 It’s What’s Inside Not RatedComedyHorrorMystery
It’s What’s Inside is a 2024 comedy horror-mystery film written and directed by Greg Jardin. When Cyrus is convinced to attend a pre-wedding party for his old friend, an estranged classmate shows up, causing the drama he sought to avoid and leading the entire event down a darkly comedic series of events.
Director Greg Jardin Release Date January 19, 2024 Writers Greg Jardin Cast Brittany O’Grady , James Morosini , Alycia Debnam-Carey , Gavin Leatherwood , Devon Terrell , Nina Bloomgarden , Reina Hardesty , David W. Thompson , Madison Davenport Runtime 103 Minutes Studio(s) Such Content , Edith Productions , Boldly Go Productions Expand