Movie Review 13B | 13B Hindi Movie Review

Movie Review 13B | 13B Hindi Movie Review

Unlucky No 13 – Perhaps the most famous of all superstitions and huge favourite with filmmakers (Hollywood has driven the entire Friday The 13th franchise based on this) is the take off point for this week’s new release 13B From the flat number to the time on the clock to the TV channel number – the ‘13 jinx’ looms large over the film and its characters.

The doomed victim is a civil engineer Manohar (Madhavan, perfectly cast) who lives with his family in a posh suburban Mumbai flat. A series of bizarre, sometimes near fatal incidents prompt Manohar to start questioning his luck. While the rest of his family members seem to be going from strength to strength after moving into flat no 13B, Manohar is facing quite the contrary. From something as basic as getting stuck in a lift and tea going bad to nearly losing a dear one, Manohar’s life turns in to a never-ending episode of bad luck. Quite like the twists and turns of a daily soap opera… Manohar soon discovers that his life is actually unfolding on the lines of a TV serial. The mysterious show plays on channel no 13 at 1300 hrs on the 13th floor of his building. At some level it’s a clever but scary satire on how seriously we tend to take the on screen lives of the TV actors. Manohar’s quest to dig deep into the root cause of this mystery forms the crux of the film.

13B has a number of aces up its sleeve. First and foremost is its identifiable urban, upper middle-class setting. The location and dialogues are straight from our daily lives. Thankfully, someone has finally taken Bollywood horror out of the village temples and haunted mansions. There are no tantrik babas or shlokas – instead the director chooses to explain the paranormal using laws of physics.

It would be unfair not to mention the movie’s brilliant cinematography. In the initial reels of 13B, influences of RGV’s Bhoot are pretty evident in his shot taking. But barring certain cosmetic similarities this film has a strong narrative of its own. Creating a sense of panic with minimal use of darkness is among the movie’s strengths. The director remarkably captures the eeriness of being stuck in an automatic elevator. And adds an element of intrigue and fear using everyday tools like the TV or a mobile phone. What if something as personal as your Ipod or laptop gets possessed?

Convincing direction:Despite the obvious cinematic liberties in the story, which sometimes border on stupidity, there is a strong sense of conviction in the direction. That’s why even when you know what is being played in front of you is far from reality. One wonders – what next?

For most of its running time, the film and its lead characters keep you involved in their sense of helplessness. There seems to be a consistent feeling of tension and urgency throughout the movie. And a large part of the credit must go to Madhavan who steers through the film effortlessly. Mixing genuine fear with a touch of black humour, Madhavan’s dilemma and vulnerability strike a chord with the viewer.

But what could have been a taut, crisp horror flick is watered down to a certain extent by its length. At a running time of nearly two-and-a-half hours, 13B is little too long for a film of this genre. And considering its not even a Raaz which has several other ingredients apart from fear; this spooky play of camera and sound tends to get a bit suffocating for the viewer.

Also like most horror films, the back-story behind all the mystery is not as engaging as the sequences leading to it.

And what’s with the two songs? We really don’t want to see Madhavan and Neetu Chandra making out on a beach in the middle of all the tension.

FINAL RESULTS : In a season of big budget turkeys, this relatively small film comes as a surprise. It’s got its share of weaknesses, but succeeds in giving you the goose bumps on more than one occasion.

Rating : 4/5

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