We begin by noting that this episode of the Fully-Booked: Literary Podcast is focused on young adult mystery thrillers, a genre that has become increasingly popular in recent years. To kick off the month, we’ve chosen to discuss the 2021 Netflix book adaptation of There’s Someone Inside Your House, based on a 2017 novel by Stephanie Perkins.
Note
The following is an editorialized transcript of our weekly literary podcast. If you would like to listen to the podcast, click the play button above orlisten on your favorite platform with the links below.
There’s Someone Inside Your House: Synopsis
The film has received mixed reviews, with a 4.9 out of 10 rating on IMDb and a 47% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite these mediocre ratings, the hosts express that they found the movie to be more enjoyable than the scores suggest, describing it as captivating and fast-paced.
The plot of the film takes place in a small fictional town called Osborne, Nebraska. We are introduced to a series of murders targeting high school students, with each victim harboring a deep, dark secret that is revealed as they are killed. The protagonist, Makani, is a transfer student from Hawaii who is also trying to escape her own mysterious past.
We are told that the killer wears 3D-printed masks of the victims’ faces during the murders, which is meant to be a poetic touch but is not executed particularly well. After each murder, the killer sends out mass messages to everyone in town, revealing the victim’s secret.
We discuss several characters introduced in the film, including:
- Jackson – The first victim, a football player involved in a hazing incident
- Caleb – A gay football player initially suspected of the murder
- Alex – A character who frequently points out issues of diversity and oppression
- Rodrigo – A student with a pill addiction
- Zach – A rich kid whose father is a disliked property developer
- Darby – A non-binary student in the protagonist’s friend group
- Katie – A racist and homophobic student who becomes the second victim
- Ollie – An outcast student who had a summer relationship with Makani
We learn that the film attempts to address various social issues, including racism, homophobia, and economic disparity in small-town America. However, we note that some of these attempts feel heavy-handed or poorly executed.
The conversation reveals that the killer’s motives and logic are somewhat unclear and unsatisfying, which may contribute to the film’s mixed reception. The hosts express particular disappointment with the murder of Rodrigo, feeling that his backstory and addiction issues made him a sympathetic character who didn’t deserve to be targeted.
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Mixed Motivations
The film closely follows the plot of the book, although we acknowledge that some time has passed since reading the novel. The conversation also touches on some of the film’s plot devices, such as a party where students are encouraged to reveal their secrets, and the revelation that Zach’s father is a Neo-Nazi with a collection of memorabilia that Zach has converted into drug paraphernalia.
They had some mixed feelings with regard to the overall plot and the killers’ motives. They discuss the predictability of certain plot points, with Shirin mentioning that she guessed the killer’s identity within the first 20 minutes.
We learn that as the plot progresses, a curfew is instituted, and the school is temporarily shut down due to the murders. Suspicion falls on Ollie, the outcast character, though the hosts seem to doubt his guilt based on his obvious feelings for Makani.
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The summary concludes with a mention of Makani’s mysterious past, which is hinted at through trauma flashbacks and the appearance of photos showing a burn victim and Makani’s own mug shot. The hosts express some disappointment with this storyline, suggesting that it may not have lived up to their expectations.
We continue their discussion of the film, delving deeper into the plot and character motivations. We learn that the protagonist, Makani, is attacked by the killer who attempts to set her on fire, which is later revealed to be symbolic of her past trauma. This attack leads to speculation about whether there might be multiple killers, though this theory is ultimately disproven.
A significant portion of the discussion centers on the reveal of the killer’s identity. It turns out to be Zack, the wealthy student whose father is a developer. His motive is to expose everyone’s secrets and prove that they’re all hypocrites. However, we note that this motive is weak and poorly thought out. They question why Zack needed to murder people to expose their secrets, particularly in the case of Rodrigo, the student with a Fentanyl addiction.
A Rocky Finale
The film’s third act falls flat due to the unconvincing motive and inconsistent targeting of victims. Meaghan and Shirin express confusion about why certain characters were targeted, such as Caleb and Ollie, who don’t seem to fit the pattern of having dark secrets to expose.
We also discuss Makani’s backstory, which involves her accidentally pushing a girl into a bonfire during a hazing incident in Hawaii. They criticize the portrayal of this event, finding it unrealistic and poorly executed.
Overall, we gather that while the film had some interesting elements, such as the killer’s use of 3D-printed masks of the victims’ faces, it ultimately fails to deliver a satisfying conclusion. The hosts describe it as “middle of the road,” with a strong start that loses momentum as the plot progresses.
They point out that the movie takes itself too seriously, attempting to weave in poetic elements that don’t quite fit. The hosts compare this unfavorably to another series they plan to discuss in the future, which they feel does a better job of integrating writing elements into the plot.
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Final Thoughts
In conclusion, we understand that while the hosts found some aspects of the film entertaining, they were ultimately disappointed by the weak motive of the killer, the inconsistent logic behind the murders, and the overly aggressive final confrontation between Makani and Zack. They suggest that the film’s attempt to tackle serious themes fell short, resulting in a mediocre viewing experience that didn’t live up to its initial promise.
Overall, we can see that while the film has its flaws, including some heavy-handed social commentary and questionable plot decisions, the hosts found it to be an engaging watch. The discussion highlights the complex balance between addressing serious issues and maintaining the entertainment value expected in a young adult thriller.
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