In more ways than one,Netflix’s upcoming horror comedy movie is starting to look like the perfectFreak Fridayfollow-up I did not think I needed. Over the years, movies and shows of many genres have riffed on the body swap trope. It seems to create the perfect setup for a comedy-drama that follows the lives of two or more characters who are somehow forced to step inside each other’s boots and experience life from one another’s perspective. While some of these body swap stories inmovies, likeYour Name, have been received incredibly well, others have failed to leave their mark.
However, of all the movies and shows that adopt the trope, the one film often considered synonymous with it isFreaky Friday.Starring Jamie Lee Curtisand Lindsay Lohan, the movie played a crucial role in popularizing the trend and highlighting its potential as a comical narrative device. Owing to this, it is not surprising thatFreaky Fridayis getting asequel, titled Freakier Friday, over two decades after its release. Although there is still some time beforeFreaky Friday 2hits the big screens, Netflix seems to have the perfect addition to the movie sub-genre.
It’s What’s Inside Brings A Compelling New Spin To Freaky Friday’s Body Swap Trope
The Film Expands The Scale Of The Trope
Unlike mostbody-swap movies,It’s What’s Insidedoes not merely walk through the drama that unfolds in two characters' lives when they switch bodies. Instead, it presents a sci-fi setup where a character introduces a device to a group of college friends, claiming it can help them achieve feats beyond their wildest dreams. When the group agrees to give the device a shot, they are surprised by how it makes them swap their consciousness with one another. However, what begins as a fun experiment soon takes a wild turn when they start turning against one another with their swapped bodies.
Despite adopting the same trope as the Disney movie, however, It’s What’s Inside does not promise to be a feel-good drama.
Freaky Friday’s use of the body swap gimmick is entertaining and heartwarming because of its familial themes. Despite adopting the same trope as the Disney movie, however,It’s What’s Insidedoes not promise to be a feel-good drama. Instead,it sells itself as a psychological horror film with hints of dark humor. Even its trailer adopts flashy and stylistic visuals that suggest it will use the body swap trope as a vessel to explore darker themes surrounding identity, addiction, and jealousy. Its portrayal of body-swapping will also be far more puzzling and high-concept than most offerings of the sub-genre.
It’s What’s Inside’s Early Reviews Make It Even More Exciting
The Film Has Largely Positive Reviews
Following its Sundance release on July 31, 2025,It’s What’s Insidehas a Rotten Tomatoes score of 82%, with 33 reviews. Some critics have given it negative reviews, stating that its premise is too over-the-top to be remotely believable. Others have also said that the film’s aggressive style does not benefit it because it fails to make up for its lack of depth. However, most critics have praised the film for its ability to take a familiar trope and turn it into something completely novel and thrilling.
Why Tom Selleck Dropped Out Of Freaky Friday
Tom Selleck was originally cast in 2003’s Freaky Friday but the Blue Bloods actor missed out on starring alongside Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.
For instance, one critic (Ty Cooper viaHeyUGuys) said, “There is no drug on this earth that could prepare you for the experience of a film like this.“ScreenRant’s Patrice Witherspoonalso gave the film a solid four out of five stars, quoting, “A mind-bending horror feature one could easily become obsessed over, It’s What’s Inside is sure to find its cult fan base very quickly.” With so many critics lauding Greg Jardin’s execution ofIt’s What’s Inside’s unique take on the body-swap trope, I look forward to seeing the film onNetflixand comparing it withFreaky Friday.
It’s What’s Inside
It’s What’s Inside is a film centered around a high-stakes narrative involving complex character dynamics that explore internal and external conflicts. Throughout the storyline, characters face personal challenges as they navigate their intertwined fates, providing a gripping view of their struggles and transformations.
Freaky Friday
Freaky Friday is a body-swap comedy directed by Mark Waters, featuring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis as a teenage girl and her mother who magically exchange bodies. Released in 2003, the film explores their humorous and heartfelt journey as they navigate each other’s lives, leading to a deeper understanding and appreciation of one another.
