Many describe this musical comedy special as “life-ruining”.  At first, I thought that was a bit extreme, but now, I completely understand.  It’s been a week and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head.

Bo Burnham is a comedian known for incorporating original songs into his sets.  However, five years ago, he quit performing live due to having panic attacks on stage.  Now, he’s made an unexpected return with Inside.  Filmed over the course of a year in lockdown, Burnham wrote, shot, and edited this special by himself, in one small room.

The cinematography is amazing.  Despite being filmed in only one venue, none of the visuals is repetitive. Burnham manages to evoke different emotions through his lighting, camera angles and shot sizes.  The editing also keeps you on edge—between the jump cuts and long shots, you never know what will happen next.

Of course, the highlight of the special is the songs.  Compared to Burnham’s previous works, Inside covers darker themes, such as depression, isolation, and the Internet’s overbearing presence.  It’s relatable, catchy, and it really makes you think about the world we’ve created for ourselves.

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Caitlin is a film student who watches a movie once a month and then talks about it for a year. She wants to watch more and talk less, so writing reviews has become a short and sweet outlet for her thoughts. She hopes that these reviews would also inspire something in other people, as it has for her.