High-end art thief Nemo (Willem Dafoe) triggers a fail-safe lockdown mechanism during a heist of a luxury penthouse imprisoning him “Inside.” Nemo is left to scour his surroundings for survival resources and to engineer his escape. Dafoe is as unhinged as ever (which is saying something), and watching his desperation in isolation is quite mesmerizing, particularly when paired with the gorgeously artistic set dressing. 

But from the outset, it's evident that what we're watching is not a narrative thriller but a rather symbolic one steeped in obtuse metaphor. Dafoe's character, being named Nemo, immediately brings to mind Jules Verne's Captain Nemo, who experienced freedom in his state-of-the-art Nautilus submarine. Nemo here, though trapped inside this high-end apartment, finds inspiration in the vast collection of art, sculptures, and luxurious furnishings. But to engineer his escape, Nemo must destroy the various installations to incorporate them into his own creation, a giant pyramid climbing towards a potential exit through the ceiling. His massive structure evokes imagery of the pyramid of transcendence or enlightenment. But simultaneously, the exit he's building towards, the prominent light fixture on the ceiling, is similarly shaped like a pyramid. However, this pyramid is inverted and evocative, not of transcendence but more of Dante's rings of hell. Is Nemo achieving transcendence through his art, or does his isolation have him descending into madness? Heaven or Hell? Verne's Captain Nemo also endeavored for enlightenment in scientific discovery, but the isolation and disconnect from the greater society also impacted his psyche. Does Dafoe's Nemo find a similar end?

“Inside,” no doubt, is not going to work for all audiences. The drama of “Inside” is almost purely metaphorical. You must look elsewhere if you're expecting a straightforward survival thriller or a high-tension art heist film. For those viewers, as the drama shifts from survivalist tension to artistic pretension, “Inside” becomes grueling to watch. However, if you appreciate films that incorporate intricate artistic symbolism, “Inside” is packed with enigmas awaiting your discovery.

— 4 / 5 ⭐