In Vitro

Such a simple yet effectively told story I’m really surprised it hadn’t got a lot of attention. It’s one of those films where to explain any part of the plot would spoil it so I would just say see it without any looking up anything about it. The only small problem I had was the believability of some parts of the story, especially the very final twist. How the science bit of the sci-fi aspect of the film could actually work could have been more developed.

Film 183 of 2024:

Sydney Film Festival:

I got to view In Vitro at the Sydney Film Festival. I knew nothing going into the viewing. This lack of expectation likely lead to my overall heightened enjoyment of the film.

To say anything about the core story or it's themes would border on spoiler. In Vitro is a well directed film that respects it's audience. It's allows it's story to be revealed in pieces, that the audience put together. Scenes move quickly but the film never feels overbearing - as the young directors allow moments of tension to build.

Some might have issues with the script, I personally did not. There were moments towards the end of Act 2 and throughout Act 3, where I found myself not agreeing with the path of the story - and thinking to myself that I would have made an alternate choice. But whenever I felt this way, the film revealed something that justified the decision.

The cast is small and intimate, with Ashley Zukerman the stand out performance. The stars however may be the cinematography, capturing the beautiful isolated rural Australia - a unique setting for a film like this. The score swells from scene to scene, adding layers to the ever building tension. This is complimented by the excellent sound design, with every clang and shot bursting off the screen.

In Vitro may not be perfect but it's a film I wasn't expecting to enjoy as much as I did. I'm glad I got the opportunity to see this. It's always great to see Australian films that step outside of some of the local industry cliches, and In Vitro does that well.