Parents' Guide to Inside

Definitely not a standard Hollywood escape/survival thriller, this arty drama/thriller alternates between moments in which we root for the character to succeed and unsettling existential passages. Directed by Greek-born filmmaker Vasilis Katsoupis, Inside is beautifully designed, including every nook and cranny of the lavish, opulent penthouse, which is filled with actual works of art. Eventually the penthouse itself is turned into a work of art after Nemo moves furniture, leaves rubbish everywhere, and even sketches on the walls.

Multiple-Oscar nominee Dafoe does some impressive heavy lifting here; he's the only character on-screen, although viewers hear voices and see images of others through security cameras. The scenes in which he cleverly finds ways to survive and works through a lengthy escape are right out of a traditional thriller, solid and entertaining. But the other scenes and sequences -- the hallucinations, a rambling joke, passing the time, and other strange stuff -- can be off-putting. And, as Inside gets closer to its conclusion, it becomes more and more opaque, bristling with possible hidden meanings but difficult to pin down. Some viewers will enjoy pondering it, but others will understandably be frustrated or annoyed.