THEY LIVE INSIDE US [2020]

 "I THINK THERE'S A STORY HERE WAITING TO BE TOLD." 

Unfortunately, we really don't get one in THEY LIVE INSIDE US.  I was really hoping for one.  I was rooting for this movie; especially after the terrific Halloweeny vibe of the opening five or so minutes which is dripping with autumnal leaves and Beistle Halloween decorations.  But unfortunately the film is filled with a whole lot of things not-happening.  The slight plot concerns a typical neighbourhood haunted house which author Jake decides to visit on Halloween night along with his daughter Dani in order to get some inspiration for a scary screenplay he's writing.  That's about it. 

Jake has a notebook in which he lists a bunch of scary monsters and chooses several of them to write about during the film.  These scenes, in which we see the scary scenarios played out for us provide the only pep the film has to offer:  a Jason-like serial killer in a black cat Halloween mask, a killer clown, a killer scarecrow. . . nothing we haven't seen before but they make a welcome break from the plodding rest of the film.  There is a twist, I guess which you'll guess fairly early on -- especially since some neighbourhood bike-riding teens basically tell you the forthcoming plot of the film in the first five minutes!  

Writer/Director/Cinematographer/Editor/Chief Cook & Bottle-Washer Michael Ballif is really trying here, and there are moments here and there which are nicely done; but it seems like every shot is held too long and every scene should be trimmed at its beginning AND the end.  Seemingly endless repetitions of lead actor James Morris slowly roaming the Booth House encountering the same rooms and the same doors while wearing an expression of confusion combined with fear are surely meant to play like a nightmare scenario but instead try the viewer's patience.  All this in a movie which lasts an hour and 43 minutes means it desperately needs the scissors taken to it.  Worse is the fact that all this padding is needless since the movie would surely play better in an 80 or so minute cut and not lose anything plotwise.  THEY LIVE INSIDE US apparently has a connection to the horror anthology THE WITCHING SEASON which I own but haven't had a chance to watch yet.  I know . . . what a silly git!  The moviecertainly is REALLY well shot!  As I said, I was rooting for this movie but it's too disjointed and over-padded to be really worthwhile.  Fantastic poster, though!