IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE: Netflix Buys Buzzy Sundance Horror Movie

Greg Jardin’s feature directorial debut sold to the streaming service for an impressive $17 million.

By Ryan Scott · @RyanScottWrites · January 22, 2024, 6:27 PM EST
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Image courtesy of Netflix

The Sundance Film Festival is currently going on and, as usual, it’s one of the biggest, most prestigious festivals of the year. In particular, Sundance is known for producing buzzy films that will either go on to become big hits later in the year and/or Oscar-worthy titles. Netflix, in short order, got in on the action by making a huge, multi-million-dollar deal for one of the buzziest titles to emerge in the early days of the fest in the form of the horror/comedy It’s What’s Inside. You may not have heard of this one yet, but it’s a good time to get it on your radar.

According to Deadline, Netflix acquired the rights to the film in a $17 million deal. It is, for the moment, the biggest deal of Sundance 2024. The film screened over the weekend at the fest and sparked interest from multiple suitors, with Netflix coming out on top to win the worldwide rights. The film, which serves as the feature directorial debut of Greg Jardin, is described as a “playful, sexy, and science fiction-infused feature” that “plays out within a twisted parlor game among a flock of raffish social media obsessives.” The brief, mysterious logline reads as follows:

“A pre-wedding party descends into an existential nightmare when an estranged friend shows up with a mysterious suitcase.”

Netflix

The cast is filled out with up-and-comers including Brittany O’Grady, James Morosini, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Devon Terrell, Gavin Leatherwood, Reina Hardesty, Nina Bloomgarden and David Thompson. Word is this one is filled with twists and turns, which is why the plot details are being kept so secretive for the time being. It will be interesting, as a result, to see how Netflix handles the marketing campaign when the eventual release date creeps up.

It’s What’s Inside was a co-production between Such Content, Edith Productions and Boldly Go, with William Rosenfeld, Kate Andrews, Jason Baum and Raul Domingo on board as producers. Colman Domingo (of 2021’s Candyman fame) and Robert Kapp serve as executive producers.

There’s currently no indication as to when the streaming service intends to release this one to the movie-loving public, but the hope here is that they will get it before subscribers sooner rather than later, given the buzz coming out of the festival. To that end, the movie currently holds a perfect 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Granted, that’s only with a handful of reviews but that’s one heck of a start.

It’s What’s Inside does not currently have a release date but stay tuned.