Haunted 2011 Hindi Movie Review

Star Cast: Mahaakshay Chakraborty, Tia Bajpai, Achint Kaur, Arif Zakaria, Mohan Kapoor, Sanjay Sharma, Krishna Bhatt
Director : Vikram Bhatt
Singers : K K, Suzanne D’Mello, Jojo, Nikhil D’Souza, Tia Bajpai

Movie Reviews

Director Vikram Bhatt is known for different kind of film. But it seems he has been fascinated the most by horror films. That’s the reason, which has made him produce one horror film after another. With Haunted, Vikram has tried his hand at such a movie all over again.

With Haunted though, the director is going a step further. He has tried to mix horror with 3D, hoping that the combination would be a winner all the way. As a result, Vikram has made a film that has the capacity to keep the viewer on the edge throughout. This makes Haunted not only one of the best horror film ever made in Bollywood but also one of the best work of Vikram Bhatt.

Whereas most directors including Vikram claim that their movie is different, but all horror films basically revolve around some predetermined concepts and storylines, which never tend to change. But Haunted is different as it does not adopt the tried and tested ways. Though there are portions in the film, which seem to be old and stale, but what makes the film interesting is that whenever you tend to get bored, the film takes a new turn, reinstating your interest in it.

Spooky effects aplenty like the lights going off in the haunted mansion, creaky doors, the evil spirit jumping from nowhere makes Haunted a true horror thrilled from Indian cinema.

Apart from his excellent writing skills, Vikram has used a mixture of excellent script and screenplay with modern technology to provide an exceptional thriller.

Haunted has also managed to start a new era in 3D cinema. Though, some good 3D film have been made in Hollywood, which have been appreciated by Indian audiences as well, this is the first good 3D film emerging from our own Bollywood.

The story of the film starts with a real estate agent Rehan [Mahaakshay], who visits Glen Manor, a mansion with secret past and a haunted present to complete a deal regarding its sale. But he realizes that someone is trying to prevent the sales deed from getting through. On proper investigation he finds out that one spirit in the mansion has trapped another spirit for the last 80 years.

The film is well writer and well directed by Vikram Bhatt. Its music, especially its background score is well-tuned with the basic concept of the film. The cinematography by Pravin Bhatt is also of top quality.

But not many films in Bollywood are complete piece of cinema and that goes even for Haunted. Some sequences in the film are unnecessary and could have been avoided. The dance sequence in the middle of the night was not needed at all. You can’t make someone dance when he is so scared. The songs have actually acted as a hindrance to the film and made it slow. The rape scene has also been shown in a meek way and should have been more illustrative.

The climax of the film is illogical and the film has been stretched far too much at the end. The last 20 minutes or so at the end are totally needless and the film should have ended when the couple reaches the dargaah.

Mahaakshay has done a decent job in the film. The rest of the star cast including Tia, Achint Kaur, Arif Zakaria, Mohan Kapoor, Sanjay Sharma and Prachee have all done justice to their roles.

Horror films made in Bollywood usually fall into the hopeless category of films. Haunted on the other hand has some class and taste. Since the story has been narrated in an efficient manner and the screenplay keep you on the edge of your seat all through, most people watching it will enjoy it. But being an all-out horror film, it is only for people with strong heart.