Raaz Reboot
Director : Vikram Bhatt
Cast :Emraan Hashmi, Kriti Kharbanda, Gaurav Arora
Classification: TBA
Rating : ** (2)
Emraan Hashmi and Kriti Kharbanda in Raaz Reboot, which local reviewer Varshan Sookhun feels is a boxoffice let down.
Vikram Bhatt struggles to reinstate ‘horror’ as a mainstream genre in Bollywood, after previously enjoying a phenomenal response to his ‘Raaz’ in 2002. The last two chapters have been average attempts to keep up with the standard set by its predecessor. Now, it seems Bhatt has buried the franchise sex feet under with the fourth instalment.
Plot
Shaina (Kriti) and Rehaan (Gaurav) shift to Romania after marriage, seeking a peaceful life in their new home. Soon after they move into the luxurious place, Kriti starts to feel the presence of a spirit. Without much evidence to prove the presence of a supernatural to her husband, Kriti seeks help from an ex-flame, Aditya (Emraan Hashmi).
While Kriti and Aditya understand each other’s eerie sightings, there is a secret about Rehaan’s past that begins to surface. They set out to solve the mystery.
Verdict
Forget about receiving cold chills down your spine - this is a pretentious horror inlaid with musical interludes and unintentional comedy tracks. Bhatt’s intention is very clear from start. He is not attempting anything new while prying on his own previous works for inspiration. Infact, he has reworked several scenes for the horror enactment from the previous films. Blame is upon the director for relying heavily on old school tricks instead of being creative and reinventing the genre for Bollywood.
Most audiences who have been exposed to the brilliant work of Hollywood in films of this genre (eg. The Conjuring, Exorcist) would surely find this too mild for their liking.
Emraan Hashmi is the savior of this awful film, adding a stroke of genius to the story despite making a late entry. The newbies, Kriti Kharbanda and Garav Arora put up a decent show. They are acting amateurs with just the right amount of talent to play their parts on screen.
Music compositions by Jeet Gannguli are pleasant but the tracks have been misplaced along the narrative. This distracts the unfolding of events, thereby leaving the treatment in a critically corny condition.
Recommendation
This movie should be watched at the viewer’s own risk. The directorial incompetence is a cinematic nightmare.
*Journalist and media personality, Varshan Sookhun, presents the lifestyle show The Midday Spice on Lotus FM, 92.5 to 103.8 FM, Monday to Friday, noon to 3pm. He also presents Bollywood Billboard from 2pm to 5pm on Saturdays.