In Vitro (2024) Review
IN VITRO is co-directed by Will Howarth and Tom McKeith, with Howarth making his feature-length directorial debut. Star of the film Talia Zucker (LAKE MUNGO) collaborated with the duo as co-writers. The film also features stand out performances from Ashley Zukerman (SUCCESSION, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR), as well as Will Howarth (BEAST).
Layla lives on a remote cattle property with her husband, Jack, who has developed a new process for breeding livestock. But the farm is struggling, and the isolated existence is not the life Layla dreamed of, especially when several unsettling events occur on the property. As Layla starts to question her life with Jack, she discovers that there is a disturbing presence with them on the farm.
IN VITRO starts off as looking like it is nothing more than a marriage drama but do stick with it, it might appear static and uninvolving (and for good reason), but I can assure you that once the groundwork has been laid down that what follows is intense, bewildering and keeps you on your toes. Where the story goes I cannot and will not say, I would like the viewer to be as fresh to IN VITRO as I was with nothing more than a basic plot online to go on.
What I can tell you is that the film’s sound design and photography are both excellent. The photography captures both the beauty and sparseness of the landscape, whereas the sound design adds metallic textures to an unsettling and perplexing effect. IN VITRO’s midsection is incredibly tense following an OMG reveal that knocks you for six. It then settles into a less tense, but more disturbing and disorientating final act that will sit with you long after the film finishes.