Cast: Charan Lakkaraju, Chaithra J. Achar, Preethi Pagadala, Ramesh Indira, Surya Raj Veerabathini
Crew:
Presented by Prashanth Neel
Cinematography by Dinesh Divakaran
Music by Venky GG
Editing by Akul Avinash
Written and Directed by Kirtan Nadagouda
Produced by Mythri Movie Makers
Scary and Horror movies in Telugu have been rare and Ram Gopal Varma tried to make it mainstram but the genre remained rather not so box office friendly. Challenging that trope, 418, presented by Prashanth Neel and produced by Mythri Movie Makers, released on 23rd October. Kirtan Nadagouda debuted as director and let's discuss in detail.
Plot:
Vivek (Surya Raj) joins a well-known Vedagiri Institute of Medical Sciences set in rural and coastal Karnataka. Locals do not give rooms to medical students as they had worst experiences with them spoiling around. So, he is forced to join the Boys Hostel but strictly women are not allowed into it. Vivek's loving mother tries to enter to give him snacks but she is forcefully thrown out as an invisible force activates. It is revealed that Boys Hostel was a psychiatric ward and one woman killed herself, killing everyone who tried to stop her.
Vivek takes 417 room with strict instructions to not open 418 and he befriends Rohith (Charan Lakkaraju). Rohith doesn't believe in ghosts and God but Vivek is fearsome. They meet a rebellious Saisha (Preethi Pagadala) who is infected by Covid. She gets to know about locked room 418 and challenges to enter it. But Vivek faces a nightmarish ghostly possession and talks to college psychiartist (Ramesh Indira). They talk about patient Devika (Chaitra Achar). Who is she? Is she behind haunting? Why? Watch the movie to know more.
Analysis:
Chaitra Achar is splendid in the character of Devika. She commands the screen with her silent reactions and creates the eerie around her just with her expressions. She even took training to perform Yakshagaana in the film but the makers did not use it fully. She is the stand-out performer. Ramesh Indira is good but writing lacks any spine for his character. All others either overact or just look blank at the camera. Preethi Pagadala majorly is a big let down.
Music by Venky GG is underwhelming and lacks any sort of memorable quality. Cinematography by Dinesh Divakaran is very good. But the choice to go for dutch angles, extreme close-ups and tilted angles continuously underwhelms the quality behind his work. Editing by Akul Avinash is forgettable as he tries to ape Prashanth Neel template in major sequences making it more frustrating than rewarding.
Kirtan Nadagouda tried to follow the genre principles and cliches making a horror film but majority of his scenes feel cliched. Devika portion, Yakshagaana connect does help but the set-up lacks any sort of connectivity and relatability. The over-stretched introduction, dragged out trauma portions of Vivek do not build on the anticipation rather create no interest.
As soon as Devika portions start, even the screenplay starts to become more interesting. Again, when Saisha portions start it feels like two distinct films joined together forcefully. Sound Design tries to induce the eerie atmosphere and succeeds to an extent. Overall, the real story in 418 lies with Devika character and as her portions do work to an extent, the movie is watchable.
Positives:
Chaitra's performance
Sound Design
Production Design
Potential in point about postpartem stress
Negatives:
Lethargic Screenplay
Tried and Tested Tropes
Cliched narrative
Draggy first half
Bottomline: 418 tries to touch postpartem, depression, anxiety built up due to imagination but doesn't cohesively deliver.
Rating: 2.5/5
Disclaimer: The views/opinions expressed in this review are personal views/opinions shared by the writer and organisation does not hold a liability to them. Viewers' discretion is advised before reacting to them.
