I know we’re not mentioning many stream movies of late, but honestly, talking about indie movies is way better. I first heard about In Vitro a good while back, and wanted to see it, as it looked good.
In Vitro stars Talia Zucker, Ashley Zukerman, and Will Howarth. There are more cast members, but those are the main players. I will also say, if you don’t want to spoil this movie, do not look at it on IMDb. In the cast, there is a major plot reveal! #idiots
The Story
The trailer for In Vitro looked good, and the story is short and sweet:
On a struggling cattle farm some years in the future, a woman discovers the unsettling consequences of her husband’s animal breeding technology.
There isn’t much to add to this without giving away the story. We meet Layla (Zucker) and Jack (Zuckerman), who live in the Outback of Australia, on a struggling cattle farm.
Things become even harder as Layla starts to see and hear things that aren’t normal. This opens up a rabbit hole of what her husband is up to.
As I said, I don’t want to give too much away, but the first act is good, setting up the situation, but the beginning of the second act grips you! The rest of the movie is a good horror/thriller.
The Cast
In Vitro is an indie movie, very limited on budget, but it doesn’t show. The cast are relatively new to acting, but again, this doesn’t show.
Zucker has to carry the movie, and she does it well. Poor Layla has no idea what is going on or what her husband is up to. You’re lost in the story as you follow her, and as things start to unfold.
I really felt for her in places, with the constant ‘What would I do here?’. Basically, I wouldn’t make it through a horror movie; I’d be the first to go. However, I might make it through as I also don’t make stupid decisions; ‘Oh, there’s a noise coming from the basement…I’m going to run away and hide!’
Silly Cow
I’m not calling Layla a silly cow, but the cows on the farm in In Vitro. They don’t have a major role, but they are integral to the story. Again, this is one of those times where I really want to talk about it, but I don’t want to spoil it.
Man, this is so annoying. I don’t like to put spoilers, and here, I really don’t want to. When the second act kicks off, I was surprised at the turn it took, and very pleasantly surprised.
As I have said many times now, indie writers have more freedom. They don’t have to appeal to certain demographics; they can just make what they want. In Vitro is a great example of this.
Fine, it’s not going to appeal to everyone, but it appeals to people like me. I like new things, interesting stories and just original IPs. You don’t need me to give you examples of how Hollywood flogs dead horses.
The one thing I love about indie movies, like In Vitro, is that I can go in and have no idea what to expect.
Overall
In Vitro is a very clever movie, with great production, very good acting, and a story that keeps you invested. I want to say it’s more of a thriller than a horror, although there are scary moments in it.
It’s not what I call a horror, just a tense thriller, that builds the tension as the story unfolds. I will watch it again, and I will probably pick up on things I missed the first time. It’s not an amazing movie; it’s a very good one.
In Virto is now on digital, as I’m late with this review.
