Khauf Review: When fear is not only from ghosts, but also from humans|

Hindi horror has had the same formula for a long time: jump scares, creepy faces, a little sleaze and predictable ghosts. But now changes are happening, and Smita Singh’s Khauf film is a solid example of that new thinking. This is a different kind of horror, a slow burn horror drama where there is a tremendous mix of real life issues and supernatural elements.

What is the story?

The story of the film is about Madhuri who forgets her bad past from Gwalior and shifts to room number 333 of a women’s hostel in Delhi. The room is somewhat haunted, and the girls of the hostel also warn her. But a hakim (Rajat Kapoor) who lives in Old Delhi targets vulnerable women to extract their “life essence” in order to save his own life. An alcoholic cop (Geetanjali Kulkarni) who is searching for her missing son accidentally gets caught in all this.

Did you like it?

Despite the slow burn pace of the film, it does not get boring. Once it gets into the flow, the show holds the attention. This is not only a story of ghosts, but also of those real monsters – who are roaming freely in the society. The setup of the film seems very real, where the dark past and crimes against them make the story more grounded.

Monika Panwar has made a blast in the role of Madhuri and from the initial vulnerability to the possessed version, her transformation is strong. Rajat Kapoor seems totally unpredictable and chilling. And the background score and visuals make Delhi eerie, one feels scared even without over the top jump scares.

Where did I miss a bit?

The story of the film seems a bit weak. The build up is strong, but the ending feels a bit inconsistent. The victim gains power only after being traumatized; this trope is an old problem in the horror genre and it is seen here as well.