Sector 36 (2024)

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Director: Aditya Nimbalkar
Writers: Bodhayan Roychaudhury
Release Date: September 13 2024
Language: Hindi

Review: Can a film capture the horror of one of India's most gruesome crimes while still engaging its audience? Sector 36 attempts to do just that. This 123-minute film is a gripping crime thriller, loosely inspired by the Nithari serial killings of Noida (2005). With creative twists, the film revisits this harrowing story, offering a chilling and relentless narrative that’s not for the faint of heart. If crime thrillers are your genre, this film won't disappoint.

The film opens with a deeply unsettling scene where Prem (Vikrant Massey), a seemingly ordinary caretaker in Sector 36, Delhi, brutally dismembers a girl's body. On the surface, Prem appears to be a devoted family man, with a routine that includes watching 'Sab Banenge Crorepati' religiously. However, his dark side is revealed as he derives pleasure from murdering teenagers. As the cases of missing teenagers pile up, Inspector Ram Charan Pandey (Deepak Dobriyal) takes charge of the investigation.

Aditya Nimbalkar, in his directorial debut, delivers a provocative portrayal of the harsh realities and systemic issues in the quest for justice. The film sets a grim tone from the start, portraying Prem's descent into madness while underscoring themes of social inequality. The glimpses into Prem’s troubled past are well-conveyed, but they do little to evoke empathy for his character. Despite the compelling storyline by Bodhayan Roychaudhury, the film struggles to match the emotional intensity of the real-life events it draws inspiration from.

The film’s relentless pace and dark lighting heighten the tension, with no unnecessary songs to disrupt the flow. Nimbalkar excels in execution, creating a strong impression with his first film. The background score is appropriately subtle, allowing the narrative to maintain its grip. However, the latter half, which focuses on investigative procedures and introduces new characters, becomes somewhat chaotic. The twists leading to the climax are particularly shocking, leaving a lasting impression.

Vikrant Massey stands out with a restrained performance, confidently portraying Prem, although he falls short of delivering the full intensity required for such a psychotic character, especially during confrontations with Inspector Pandey. Deepak Dobriyal excels as the gritty cop, bringing depth to his role as a man determined to uncover the truth despite numerous obstacles. His portrayal of a vulnerable yet resolute law enforcer adds a layer of realism to the film. Akash Khurana as Prem’s master Balbir Bassi and Darshan Jariwala as DCP Rastogi provide decent support.

Sector 36 is a brutal, hard-to-stomach story, but one that needed to be told. Though the film may not fully capture the raw horror of the Nithari killings, it delivers a tense and unsettling narrative that will resonate with fans of the crime thriller genre.

While not for everyone, Sector 36 is a stark reminder of the real-life horrors that can lurk beneath ordinary facades.

Savi (2024)

  Savi (2024) Full Movie

   

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Director: Abhinay Deo
Writers: Aseem Arora, Abhinay Deo
Release Date: May 31, 2024
Language: Hindi

Review: This jailbreak thriller centers on Savi, a content housewife in Liverpool, who lives with her husband, Nakul Sachdev, an employee at a construction firm. When Nakul (Harshvardhan Rane) is framed for the murder of his boss and imprisoned, Savi is certain of his innocence. Resolute in her quest to free him, she devises a bold escape plan. She enlists the help of Joydeep Paul (Anil Kapoor), an author and former convict, who helps her execute the plan with his elaborate disguises. As they orchestrate Nakul’s daring jailbreak, the Liverpool police uncover clues at Savi's home, sparking an intense and relentless pursuit.

‘Savi’ had the potential to be an engaging thriller, but it suffers from following a clichéd storyline. While the plot might have seemed intriguing on paper, the cinematic execution is not engaging. It's almost as if the film is close to achieving its potential, but doesn't quite get there. The screenplay manages to engage viewers at certain points, but few loopholes leave one wondering what happened to Abhinay Deo, the director behind the excellent ‘Delhi Belly.’ With more effort put into the screenplay and performances, ‘Savi’ could have been a standout in the jailbreak genre.

Divya Khossla takes on the challenging role of Savi, and her hard work is evident in her performance. She remains the focal point throughout the film, though one wishes she had showcased a broader emotional range. Harshvardhan Rane, portraying Nakul, delivers a decent performance,

 

but the average screenplay hinders his ability to fully display his talents. However, the film is redeemed by Anil Kapoor, whose presence is one of its bright spots. He brings a certain energy and joy to the screen every time he appears.

The jailbreak genre is underexplored in Bollywood but has been extensively covered by Hollywood, producing memorable films like ‘The Shawshank Redemption,’ ‘Escape from Alcatraz,’ and ‘Midnight Express.’ ‘Savi’ had a great opportunity to elevate this genre, but despite best efforts, it falls short. The actual jailbreak sequence is more 'tricky' than 'daring,' lacking the expected adrenaline rush. Anil Kapoor's witty dialogues inject the right amount of humour into the thriller. While ‘Savi’ makes an honest attempt to offer something new in this genre, it ultimately fails to reach the finish line.

Speak No Evil (2024) Movie

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Director: James Watkins
Writers: James Watkins, Christian Tafdrup, Mads Tafdrup
Release date: September 13, 2024
Language: English

Review: As a thriller, ‘Speak No Evil’ constantly plays with the audience's mind, thanks to director James Watkins' sharp and incisive approach. The film begins with a seemingly simple premise – two couples, initially strangers, become friends during a European vacation. Paddy, the more eccentric and unpredictable one, invites Ben and Louise to his home in the middle of nowhere. The Daltons, dealing with their own internal struggles, decide to accept the offer, not knowing they are walking into a situation far more twisted than they could ever imagine.

This deceptively simple setup is where the crux of the film lies. From the start, there's an unsettling aura surrounding Paddy, played with perfection by James McAvoy. He’s socially disruptive and a bit too adventurous, but just within the realm of plausibility, never setting off alarm bells right away. His wife Ciara and their mute child, Ant (Dan Hough), also seem to fit the mold of a typical family. But as the plot progresses, it becomes evident that nothing is what it seems like.

Psychological thrillers can often veer into over-explanation or unnecessary verbosity, but ‘Speak No Evil’ mostly manages to avoid these issues. The pacing is slow by design, but it keeps the audience on edge, feeding curiosity without becoming tiresome. There's a lingering sense that something is wrong, but the film never reveals too much too soon. Writers Christian and Mads Tafdrup, and James Watkins play with a constant undercurrent of tension and keep the narrative focused around just a few characters. Some of these characters are extreme yet believable. McAvoy’s Paddy is dangerous yet magnetic, a man whose unpredictability drives the plot. The actor’s portrayal is mesmerizing—he manages to infuse Paddy with a blend of charm and menace that makes him impossible to look away from. On the other hand, Scoot McNairy’s Ben embodies vulnerability and strength in equal measure, making his character’s journey deeply engaging. Mackenzie Davis, as Louise, is the film’s emotional anchor, providing the voice of reason amid growing chaos. Her portrayal of fear and resolve adds layers to the narrative, ensuring that the audience feels connected to her plight.

The performances across the board are outstanding, with even the child actors Alix West Lefler as Ben and Louise’s teenage daughter Agnes and Dan Hough as Ant holding their own. This is crucial in a film like this where the plot hinges on a few key characters and their interactions. The script brings them to life, but it’s the actors who make their dynamics believable.

The setting—a remote house in the woods, adds to the eeriness quotient. The disturbing silence, the isolation, and the creeping sense of dread in every scene are aided by the cinematography (by Tim Maurice-Jones). The environment acts almost as a character in itself, amplifying the psychological unease. The subtle background score enhances the suspense without being overbearing.

While some plot points may be predictable for seasoned thriller fans, the film still manages to deliver gut-punch moments that send chills down your spine. Even when you think you’ve guessed what’s coming, the sheer intensity of the revelations and the finely tuned performances keep you riveted. There are moments when the audience may question the characters' decisions or motivations. However, these never descend into absurdity or compromise the film's overall believability. The tight focus on a limited cast keeps the story contained and avoids the common pitfalls of over-explaining or stretching the narrative too thin.

‘Speak No Evil’ is a twisted, suspenseful experience that keeps you engaged despite being a slow-burn. If you’re looking for a thriller that is unsettling without being unnecessarily convoluted, this one’s a must-watch.

Berlin (Tv Series)

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Creators: Esther Martinez Lobato, Alex Pina
Release date: December 29 , 2023
Language: Spanish

Review: What makes a good spy? Jagdish Sondhi (Rahul Bose), the head of the Soviet Desk at the intelligence agency called Bureau, believes it’s sharp vision, hearing, and fit body. Yet, a scrawny and deaf-mute Ashok Kumar (Ishwak Singh) is suspected of being a German spy involved in a murder and an assassination conspiracy during Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s Indian visit in 1993. Pushkin Verma (Aparshakti Khurana), a teacher at a school for the deaf and mute, is appointed to interrogate Ashok. However, as the former delves deeper into the case, he discovers the shadowy truth about spies, bureaucracy, and politics as his ideas of nationalism change.

The thriller’s refreshing aspect is its authentic story, departing from the India-neighbourhood rivalry trope. Instead, it opts for a more nuanced exploration of internal politics, one-upmanship between intelligence agencies (Wing and Bureau), and what power dynamics can do to unsuspecting bystanders.

The A-team of writer-director Atul Sabharwal, editor Irene Dhar Malik, cinematographer Shreedutta Namjoshi, composer Krishna Kumar, and sound designer Anthony Ruban crafts a high-stakes game of espionage that will keep you on the edge of your seats throughout. The clever narrative is about the business of information trading and how the hearing and speech impaired are used as ‘walls’ between these ‘businessmen’ at a coffee house called Berlin. The title also alludes to the collapse of the Berlin Wall shortly before the movie’s setting.

Ishwak Singh shines as he conveys emotions through his eyes and body language. Aparshakti Khurana is equally impressive as a simple teacher caught in the crossfire, bringing empathy and a quest for truth to the narrative. As both actors deliver brilliant character arcs, their understated connection is heartwarming and heartbreaking. Rahul Bose is impressive as a suave, wily, and sharp agent — he may not know the sign language, but Pushkin and Ishwak cannot fool him.

The film’s suspenseful reveal is underwhelming, and the plot twist is predictable. Also, the attempts at cat-and-mouse thrills within the Bureau’s office fail to fly effectively. Still, the world-building, visual style, atmospheric tension, and intricate details make up for the minor missteps. The film seamlessly integrates themes of pain and loneliness, adding depth to the narrative without straying from the overarching theme of a spy drama.

Despite some flaws, Berlin is a masterclass in suspenseful storytelling and character development. It is a must-watch for fans of spy thrillers and those seeking a film that offers more than just surface-level excitement.

Tomb Raider 2018 Full Movie

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Director: Roar Uthaug
Writers: Geneva Robertson Dworet, Alastair Siddons, Evan Daugherty
Release Date: March 16, 2018
Language: English, Hindi

Tomb Raider Review: In the early 2000’s, Angelina Jolie played Lara Croft in a couple of films based on the video-game character who fuelled the fantasies of gaming nerds everywhere. Based on the success of the game’s reboot in 2013, the time seemed appropriate to focus on Lara Croft’s abilities as a female adventurer, rather than her status as a sex symbol. To say that Alicia Vikander had big boots to fill would be an understatement. Then again, Vikander is more than capable as an actress, with an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (‘Danish Girl’) in her belt. She takes on the physically demanding role in this live-action revision of the franchise with ease, erasing any trace of her on-screen predecessor.

This version of Lara Croft is emotionally vulnerable and devoid of superhuman abilities. She needs to use her intellect and courage to overcome the challenges ahead of her. Vikander keeps us invested enough through Lara Croft’s

 transformation from a naive, hesitant girl to a confident woman who isn’t afraid of taking risks. But in establishing her roots, the film resorts to some of the clichéd tropes of an origin tale. As a result, the plot is often predictable and logically convenient to push the story forward. There’s also the problem of the generic villain Vogel, played by Walton Goggins, who doesn’t feel sufficiently threatening to be taken seriously.

On the other hand, Dominic West as Lord Richard Croft brings in enough emotional resonance as Lara’s father to make her motivations well-justified as their scenes together are essential to the plot. Although the clunky screenplay results in uneven pacing issues that make for a sloppy watch, the action is compelling enough to see you through. If only it didn’t rely so heavily on snappy editing, it would be even more thrilling. These choices by director Roar Uthaug hold the movie back from being an intense experience. But ‘Tomb Raider’ does enough to reignite the franchise onscreen by giving its protagonist a timely and relevant overhaul to confidently launch Alicia Vikander as this generation’s Lara Croft.

Raayan (2024) Full Movie

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Director: Dhanush
Writers: Manish Bhavan, Dhanush
Release Date: July 26, 2024
Language: Tamil

Raayan Movie Review: As with his debut directorial effort, Pa. Pandi, Dhanush shows yet again that he can do solid work behind the camera as well. The world he explores this time is far removed from the warm, feel-good world of his first film. Raayan has a raw and rage-filled setting, and is populated by characters who are rugged, violent, deceptive and also vulnerable.

Raayan begins in the past when four siblings - three brothers and their new-born sister - fleeing their village and ending up in the city, where they, fortunately, end up under the care of Sekar (Selvaraghavan), a handyman in a vegetable market. The film then cuts to the present where we see that the four have grown up into individuals with distinctive characteristics. The youngest brother Manickam (Kalidas Jayaram) is a college student, filled with righteousness. His elder brother Muthu (Sundeep Kishan) is rash and rage-filled. The eldest, Raayan (Dhanush) is the responsible one, and more like a father-figure. It's their love for their sister Durga (Dushara Vijayan) that's holding them all together, and as Raayan puts it, only seeing her wedded and with a child would truly make them a family.

But even as he tries to get her wedded, due to circumstances, he finds himself caught up between a power struggle between Sethu (SJ Suryah) and Durai (Saravanan), two gangsters with a history between them, who control the locality. Meanwhile, there is also the new cop in town (Prakash Raj), who is silently stirring up things between them so that he can clean up the city in the eventual clash that would ensue.

It is a credit to the strength of Dhanush's command over storytelling and the performances that Raayan manage to overcome its weakest aspect - predictability. Even if we realise at the back of our minds that given this particular premise, almost all the plot points that the film reaches are inevitable as the story moves towards its logical conclusion, we also can't help but wonder if Dhanush could have been a little more ambitious and chosen to take things to a different space, at least with some of them. This might not have come across as a noteworthy issue if this had been just another sophomore effort, but given the credentials of this filmmaker and actor, who has raised the bar quite high for himself, it feels a considerable one.

That said, he doesn't try to coast on the drama that is inherent in this premise and makes an earnest effort to make this film look and feel different. The filmmaking is sure-footed, capturing the aggression lurking within the characters, both male and female, while his pacing keeps the narrative moving at clip that has us engrossed in the proceedings. He's also ably supported by his technical team. There's the dramatic cinematography by Om Prakash, which gives the film its distinct mood, where danger might be lurking just beyond the frame. AR Rahman amplifies this tension with his score that captures the constant darkness and dread.

And there's the film's beating heart - the relationship between the siblings. Dhanush ensures that we never forget that this is first and foremost an emotionally charged drama, so despite all the heroism and bloodshed that we see on screen (the filmmakers also deserve praise for going with the 'A' rating) , we care for how the events affect the bond between these brothers and their sister. That is his biggest success as a director.

Civil war Film

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Director: Alex Garland
Writers: Ales Garland
Release Date: April 12, 2024
Language: English

Review: Written and directed by Alex Garland, ‘Civil War’ immerses viewers into a near-future America fighting within itself. Cleverly avoiding any political comparisons, it focuses on the visceral experiences of its characters amidst the chaos. Led by war-weary journalist Lee, played by Kirsten Dunst, this group tries to reach the White House for an interview with the President of the USA. Alongside Dunst, Wagner Moura plays an adrenaline-driven journalist, Joel, while Stephen McKinley Henderson is the wise veteran, Sammy. They are joined by a young and enthusiastic photographer, Jessie, played by Cailee Spaeny.

Lee’s battle-scarred gaze encapsulates the film’s sombre tone, bolstered by Dunst’s haunting performance, which adds depth to the narrative and explores the psychological toll of relentless conflict. Meanwhile, Moura’s Joel thrives on the thrill of the chase but also grapples with the ethical dilemmas his profession poses. On the other hand, Spaeny's portrayal of Jessie is marked by a raw, youthful energy that contrasts with the seasoned wariness of her colleagues.

Guiding these characters, Alex Garland's masterful direction maintains a careful balance between the overarching narrative of societal collapse and intimate moments of frailty and resilience. The film avoids war movie tropes by focusing on their roles as journalists caught in the turmoil. This perspective shifts the film from spectacle to exploring the media’s role in shaping narratives that affect the political and socio-cultural landscape. Garland's screenplay crafts a resonant narrative that challenges viewers to consider the consequences of divisive rhetoric and political extremism without offering easy answers or judgments.

The dystopian landscape of fiery skylines and abandoned streets is a powerful backdrop to these journalists' stories as they document their country's disintegration. The cinematography by Rob Hardy captures the stark contrast between the brutal realities of war and the fleeting moments of beauty in still photographs. Scenes of intense battles and quiet despair are juxtaposed with more tranquil moments. ‘Civil War’ is a compelling, thought-provoking film that is often hard to watch but unmissable as a cinematic experience and a social commentary. It is a sombre warning of a country and, by extension, the world imagined in its darkest hours with a spotlight on the personal cost of conflict.