Netflix has just released “It’s What’s Inside,” an engaging sci-fi thriller that showcases a remarkable debut by director Greg Jardin. Acquired for a cool $17 million at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, this film has quickly become one of my top picks for the year. With a background in short films and music videos, Jardin stepped into the feature film arena with a lot of momentum.
What’s intriguing about Jardin is his prior work creating promotional content for Netflix itself, where he directed multiple promos for popular series such as “13 Reasons Why” and “Wednesday.” Among these is a standout promo for the now-canceled live-action adaptation of “Cowboy Bebop,” which featured a talented cast including John Cho, Daniella Pineda, and Mustafa Shakir. Even years after its cancellation, this promo maintains an energetic and original vibe that continues to impress, making it worthy of a watch even for those unfamiliar with the show.
The promo, titled “Cowboy Bebop: Lost Session,” bursts with distinctive style. I am particularly struck by Jardin’s innovative use of split screens—a classic cinematic technique that he manipulates creatively to enhance his storytelling. One memorable moment has a character using a split-screen barrier as a weapon, an unexpected twist that adds excitement.
While the live-action “Cowboy Bebop” did face criticism and didn’t quite garner a loyal following, this promo suggests that the series could have embraced a similar level of dynamism had it continued. A friend of mine, upon viewing the promo, exclaimed disbelief that the show did not adopt this vibrant approach. Although I haven’t seen the series myself, the promo certainly serves as a highlight of what could have been.
This refreshing style, complete with the same inventive use of split screens and color palette, is on full display in “It’s What’s Inside.” I highly encourage you to check it out, even though Netflix hasn’t heavily marketed it. Additionally, I had the opportunity to speak with Greg Jardin this week about both the film and “The Lost Session.” You can catch the full conversation on today’s episode of the /Film Daily podcast. Be sure to subscribe wherever you enjoy your podcasts, and feel free to share your thoughts or questions at bpearson@slashfilm.com, including your name and location for potential mention on the show.
