‘Inside,’ 2023

by Bard

by Bard

Note: This review is inaccurate in many of the plot details it lists. Great movie. Worth a viewing.

Inside (2023) is a psychological thriller film directed by Vasilis Katsoupis and starring Willem Dafoe. The film follows a man who wakes up in a luxurious penthouse apartment with no memory of how he got there. He soon discovers that he is trapped inside the apartment, and that the only way to escape is to solve a series of puzzles.

The film is a slow-burning, atmospheric thriller that relies on Dafoe’s performance to carry it. Dafoe is excellent as the trapped man, and he brings a sense of urgency and desperation to the role. The film’s production design is also impressive, with the penthouse apartment being a visually stunning setting.

However, the film’s strengths are also its weaknesses. The slow pace can be frustrating at times, and the film’s puzzles are not always as challenging as they could be. Additionally, the film’s ending is ambiguous and open to interpretation, which may not be to everyone’s taste.

Overall, Inside is a well-made film with a strong central performance from Dafoe. However, the film’s slow pace and ambiguous ending may not be to everyone’s taste.

Here is a more detailed analysis of the film’s strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths:

• Willem Dafoe’s performance: Dafoe is excellent as the trapped man, and he brings a sense of urgency and desperation to the role. He is the film’s emotional center, and his performance is essential to its success.
• The film’s production design: The penthouse apartment is a visually stunning setting, and it is used to great effect by the film’s director. The apartment is both luxurious and claustrophobic, and it perfectly captures the sense of isolation and despair that the trapped man feels.
• The film’s atmosphere: The film is a slow-burning, atmospheric thriller, and it creates a sense of dread and suspense that is very effective. The film’s use of sound and music is also excellent, and it helps to create a sense of unease and tension.

Weaknesses:

• The film’s pace: The film’s pace is slow, and it may not be to everyone’s taste. The film’s puzzles are also not always as challenging as they could be, and this can make the film feel a bit slow and repetitive at times.
• The film’s ending: The film’s ending is ambiguous and open to interpretation, which may not be to everyone’s taste. Some viewers may find the ending unsatisfying, while others may appreciate its open-endedness.

Overall, Inside is a well-made film with a strong central performance from Dafoe. However, the film’s slow pace and ambiguous ending may not be to everyone’s taste. If you are a fan of slow-burning psychological thrillers, then you will likely enjoy Inside. However, if you are looking for a more action-packed or puzzle-oriented thriller, then you may be disappointed.

Recommendation:

I would recommend Inside to fans of slow-burning psychological thrillers. The film is well-made and features a strong performance from Willem Dafoe. However, the film’s pace may be too slow for some viewers, and the ending may be unsatisfying for others.