INSIDE - A Review by Jenn Rohm

INSIDE – A Review by Jenn Rohm

Have you ever been to a museum exhibit and a piece just speaks to you? Different emotions hit and you find yourself standing there processing it all. I walked out of Inside feeling as if I had watched a living art exhibit. Days later and I am still processing moments. Director Vasilis Katsoupis along with all cast and crew have delivered meeting the tagline “A Solitary Exhibition”.

This is the story of Nemo (Willem Dafoe), an art thief with an eye for priceless works of art. After entering a New York penthouse and gathering pieces by Egon Schiele he is ready to exit and instead becomes trapped inside. The audience is watching as Nemo is working through how to escape and survive. How will he face trials such as no running water, no gas, and a thermostat he cannot control? How does he process his situation? What human needs does he have to meet to survive and how will he handle them?

Willem Dafoe conveys so much with his movements and expressions that I did not realize until the end that there was no constant dialog. Defoe’s performance completely pulled me in for the experience Nemo was living through. Inside is ‘art that will remain’ as a testament to the talent he possesses.

Adding to the emotional rollercoaster ride, Curator Leonardo Biagazzi brought together a wide range of pieces to decorate the penthouse. He has all seven forms of art represented. A few pieces were used in brief moments with a single piece of art on the screen. Which gave pause to the emotion of the film for emotional reactions to the pieces themselves. Other times the pieces were on the screen yet not the primary focus. I found this to be a unique way to be exposed to artists I was not familiar with. Parts of the collection are famous enough that they are listed in the credits.

Art is not always an expression of the beauty in the world. Sometimes it reflects the raw and gritty side of life. I do not want to spoil the experience of this for anyone, so I do not want to give specifics. This film does go deep and dark with the realities of life. I strongly encourage seeing the film without children first. You know your offspring(s) maturity level and mental state. I strongly encourage being fully informed in making the choice.

I give this film a rating of 3 stars.

Director: Vasilis Katsoupis

Cast: Willem Dafoe

MPAA Rating: R (for language, some sexual content, and nude images)

Genres: Drama, Thriller

Selig Rating: 4.5

Runtime: 1h 45m

Release Date: March 17, 2023

Movie Site: Inside – official movie site

Trailer: Inside – official trailer

The Selig Rating Scale:

5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.