Michael Hodgin

Michael Hodgin’s “It’s What’s Inside” (2024), well, that movie goes places you don’t quite expect. It opens on this tight-knit group of friends who’ve all got their own secrets—like, proper skeletons-in-the-closet kind of stuff—and they gather for an overnight getaway. Seems innocent enough, right? Yeah, not so much. Once they’re together, things start to unravel. There’s something about being locked in with people you think you know that really brings out the weirdness. The film doesn’t just focus on spooky vibes or cheap jump scares. Instead, it digs into the gnarly mess of human relationships—jealousy, regret, old crushes resurfacing, grudges that never quite died. Someone finds this mysterious box (because of course there’s a box), and it’s not just any box—what’s inside starts messing with everyone, dragging hidden truths and ugly emotions right into the open. You know that feeling when you wish you could just stuff your problems down and pretend everything’s fine? Yeah, the box won’t let that happen. The tension ramps up as friendships start to crack. People lash out, accusations fly, and you’re left wondering who might actually make it out unscathed (emotionally or otherwise). There’s this constant vibe of “Can you ever really know someone?” That’s the hook. By the end, you’re left questioning your own relationships, maybe side-eyeing your friends just a bit. Not your run-of-the-mill horror flick—there’s real bite here, wrapped up in sharp dialogue and more than a few gut punches.