“Migrant horror” has developed into a horror subgenre – but one that can be expanded. “Nanny” or “His House” describe racism, integration problems and scruples in dealing with outdated customs after arriving in the new homeland, and pair this with exotic demons who have traveled with them and persecute the immigrants, who remind the newcomers of their repressed origins with brutal punishments . Both films, however, are mediocre works in which the monsters serve as twisted symbols of the pressure of cultural assimilation.
The overused concept of “elevated horror” – creatures as manifestations of the psyche – is taken too seriously by many genre directors, including Bishal Dutta in his feature film debut. Can’t monsters just be monsters?
“It Lives Inside” tells of the demon Pishacha, who terrorizes Indian teenagers growing up in the United States. One girl is proud of her heritage, the other wants to fit in and adores her WASP friend. The Pishacha is an under-complex beast – once freed as a genie, it feeds on “negative energy” before “eating” souls. He finds enough “negative energies” in Samidha’s (Megan Suri) family. The mother’s conscience plagues her because she left her parents behind to immigrate and doesn’t send any money to India. Samidha suffers because she longs for an identity as an American and blames her mother: “Why did you come here if you want to be nothing other than a housewife who serves everyone?”
Both mother and daughter initially remain trapped in their roles. But the Pishacha wants to murder. Through his anger, he inadvertently contributes to the aimless women becoming active and putting down roots in the States. The devil, a horned integration officer. (Pierrot Le Fou)