Bishal Dutta’s latest horror film, It Lives Inside, ends with Samidha becoming the host of the Pishach, a malevolent entity that preyed on her friend Tamira. Samidha witnessed the Pishach abduct Tamira and kill another friend, which prompted her to seek help from her mother Poorna.
Despite their strained relationship, Poorna believed Samidha’s story and used her knowledge of the Pishach, which she learned from ancient tales, to protect her daughter. Poorna applied henna on Samidha’s hand as a shield against the creature, but Samidha decided to confront the Pishach at Karan’s house, where Tamira was held captive.
In Karan’s house, Samidha realized that his drawings revealed the way to defeat the Pishach, that is, she had to absorb it into herself. With Tamira’s assistance, who recited a prayer to make the Pishach visible, Samidha succeeded in trapping the creature inside her body.
A year later, Samidha and Tamira were still alive and well. Samidha kept the Pishach under control by feeding it meat regularly. She assured Tamira that they would never let the Pishach escape, which is where the film ends.
The Pishach Lore in ‘It Lives Inside’ Explained
The Pishach, or Pishacha, is a mythical creature from Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The creature’s characteristics may differ according to different sources. In the film, the Pishach is portrayed as a parasitic entity that feeds on human souls and thrives on negative emotions.
The Pishach targets Samidha and Tamira, who are struggling with their personal issues, and gets rid of anyone who tries to help them. The Pishach drains their life force for seven days before consuming their souls completely.
The creature does not communicate verbally, but it gains strength from its victims, and it seeks new hosts after finishing with the previous ones. Some legends suggest that the Pishach can change its shape and become invisible, which are abilities that the movie implies as well. Moreover, the Pishach prefers to haunt places where death has occurred, which explains why it resides at Karan’s house.
Was Samidha able to contain the Pishach?
It Lives Inside ends with Samidha crying, possibly because she realizes that she will not be able to contain the Pishach forever. She assured Tamira that they would prevent the Pishach from escaping, but the creature is evil, and it may not be content with Samidha as its host forever.
The movie leaves a sense of uncertainty in this regard. Samidha hides her fears from her family and friends, but the Pishach cannot survive on meat alone. It is a dark entity, and it feeds on human souls, draining their life force.
The Pishach may resent Samidha for trapping it, and it may try to break free or consume Samidha’s soul from within. However, it may also be satisfied for the time being. It receives regular nourishment, and Samidha, as its human vessel, allows the Pishach to live in the open instead of hiding in the dark.
As long as it remains fed, the Pishach may not cause any trouble, but it is unlikely to stay happy forever. So, things might get messed up once again.
Does Samidha’s possession affect her future?
Samidha shows courage in the face of the Pishach’s possession, but the creature is powerful, cunning, and malevolent. Before being captured, the Pishach was able to manipulate Samidha’s mind, showing her horrifying visions and isolating her.
This may still be happening, but internally. Samidha’s tears in the final moments of It Lives Inside indicate that she is already suffering from the Pishach’s influence. The creature may be tormenting her mentally. More importantly, it may be trying to persuade Samidha to do its evil deeds. The creature showed its abilities throughout the movie, and it may use the same techniques on Samidha.
The longer she remains possessed by the creature, the less control she may have over her thoughts and actions. Samidha is pretending to be strong for her family and friends to hide the possibility of the Pishach gradually eroding her mind and bending her to its will.
Consequently, it is possible that Samidha may become corrupted at some point in the future. The protective henna may not be effective enough to restrain the Pishach, and that could result in Samidha’s downfall to the creature’s whims. Whatever happens, Samidha has to be careful in everything she does, especially if the Pishach starts feeding on her.
Will there be a sequel to It Lives Inside?
It Lives Inside appears to have a conclusive ending, but the scene of Samidha crying as Tamira leaves suggests that there may be more to the story. However, there are no official reports of a sequel yet.
As per the film, Samidha only became a host for the Pishach, but the creature is still alive and well. It is possible that the Pishach will find a way to escape — perhaps Samidha’s henna will lose its power to restrain it — and seek revenge on her for capturing it. This could be the premise of a potential It Lives Inside 2. But a sequel has not been announced, and the film’s ending works as a standalone regardless of whether it ever gets another installment or not.
About It Lives Inside
It Lives Inside is a horror movie written and directed by Bishal Dutta. It stars Megan Suri as Samidha, an Indian-American teenager who struggles with her cultural identity and has a falling out with her former best friend Tamira (Mohana Krishnan). Tamira carries around an empty mason jar that contains a demonic entity that feeds on Samidha’s loneliness and insecurity.
Samidha must face her heritage and confront the evil spirit before it destroys her and everyone she loves. The movie also features Neeru Bajwa, Betty Gabriel, Vik Sahay and Gage Marsh in supporting roles. It is produced by QC Entertainment, Brightlight Pictures and Neon, and is set to release in late 2023
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