Vikram Bhatt might have succeeded in adding the illusion of depth in every frame of Haunted with the modern 3D technology but his story remains hollow.
He might have to his credit India's first stereoscopic film but unfortunately he can't evade stereotypes in his storytelling.
The plot is set on the ancient premise of a haunted mansion in a secluded hill-station, which real-estate broker Rehan (Mahaakshay) has come to sell off. Caretaker Ramu kaka is substituted by a ragpicker replacement, whose first words on seeing Rehan is ' Tune bahut der kar di aane mein beta '. From flickering lights, creaking doors, falling chandelier, old photo-frame, rustic piano, hanging cadaver, shrill screams to an inviting song number as the clock strikes 3, the ghost tries every trick in the trade to make its presence felt. Sadly its attempt lacks new 'spirit'.
An 80-year old letter, still in crisp condition, unveils a quick flashback. Turns out that Meera (Tia Bajpai) was brutally raped by the spirit of her piano teacher (Arif Zakaria). Ever since, she is confined within the haunted house. Despite having no personal connect with her, Rehan is still inspired enough with the mere century-old correspondence, to help Meera.
To add some variety to the 'lifeless' story, Bhatt brings time-travel into picture as Rehan goes back in time and the entire flashback repeats itself. With that, memories of the recent actual horrific film Action Replayy strikes your mind, though mercifully Bhatt doesn't mess up things as badly. So Vikram takes you back to 1920 or some such era to rekindle redundant romance. Also the director takes the time-travel theme a little too literally and brings back prehistoric horror elements when ghosts were either half-burnt rubber-masked zombies or 'blue-eyed boys' of Ramsay films. Lockets, magical potions, phantom-frightening crosses – there's everything that you could associate with the era.
If that's not enough, there's also a tribute by Vikram to Betaal, the highflying treetop ghost from Indian folklore, as actress Achint Kaur almost reprises the corpse's character in her white tunic, doing airborne antics in the pre-climax. And after scaring away the ghost with Hanuman Chalisa chants in 1920 , here he shoos it off by Sufi Dargah – perhaps the director's idea of spiritual equality. Bhatt naturally, the director maintains his consistency in the climax of all his horror films, which has never changed from Raaz till Shaapit . He is particularly in his 'elements' in the penultimate moments which involve emancipation of evil in fire or water.
The writing by Amin Hajee is conventional though he attempts to dish out some difference with the time-travel twist. The idea is never to establish the difference between the past and present era, like in Action Replayy , other than a song-dance number here and there. So no additional effort is required to recreate the bygone era, beyond the use of vintage cars or heritage structures. Also thankfully, not much time in expended on the protagonist's disbelief in the supernatural. Rehan comes to terms with the horror in his house pretty soon and probes into the puzzling past.
Vikram Bhatt spooks you more with the anticipation of the horror than the horror itself. You are anxious till the point the evil arrives but once it does, it fails to spook you. The sound effects are overdone, at instances. Of the few thrill and terror moments is the one where the possessed Achint Kaur wags out her extended tongue. Praveen Bhatt's cinematography aptly captures the beauty of the scenic hill-station. The dialogues, however, are clichéd to the core. Chirantan Bhatt's music comprise of some 'soulful' tunes.
Brent Robinson's stereography is commendable, as he adds depth to every frame with the new-age 3D technology. However, one does wish that there were more 'in your face' thrilling moments, which are the real beauty of any 3D film. Haunted doesn't tap the potential of a 3D film to the hilt. Nevertheless for a first of its kind effort, it's certainly praiseworthy. The length however could have been shorter, esp. with the viewer having to bear the burden of the heavy glasses for long.
Mahaakshay bears the same expression on his face throughout and seems too stiff. Tia Bajpai seems like a version of Celina Jaitly, both, in terms of look and performance. Arif Zakaria hams. Achint Kaur holds your attention for some time.
If the old world corniness of Ramsay's Saamri (which holds the actual claim for India's first 3D film, way back in 1985) still fascinates you, Haunted , too, could be a fun watch in the company of your friends. If you haven't seen Saamri , you haven't missed much. Haunted will take you back in time.
He might have to his credit India's first stereoscopic film but unfortunately he can't evade stereotypes in his storytelling.
An 80-year old letter, still in crisp condition, unveils a quick flashback. Turns out that Meera (Tia Bajpai) was brutally raped by the spirit of her piano teacher (Arif Zakaria). Ever since, she is confined within the haunted house. Despite having no personal connect with her, Rehan is still inspired enough with the mere century-old correspondence, to help Meera.
To add some variety to the 'lifeless' story, Bhatt brings time-travel into picture as Rehan goes back in time and the entire flashback repeats itself. With that, memories of the recent actual horrific film Action Replayy strikes your mind, though mercifully Bhatt doesn't mess up things as badly. So Vikram takes you back to 1920 or some such era to rekindle redundant romance. Also the director takes the time-travel theme a little too literally and brings back prehistoric horror elements when ghosts were either half-burnt rubber-masked zombies or 'blue-eyed boys' of Ramsay films. Lockets, magical potions, phantom-frightening crosses – there's everything that you could associate with the era.
If that's not enough, there's also a tribute by Vikram to Betaal, the highflying treetop ghost from Indian folklore, as actress Achint Kaur almost reprises the corpse's character in her white tunic, doing airborne antics in the pre-climax. And after scaring away the ghost with Hanuman Chalisa chants in 1920 , here he shoos it off by Sufi Dargah – perhaps the director's idea of spiritual equality. Bhatt naturally, the director maintains his consistency in the climax of all his horror films, which has never changed from Raaz till Shaapit . He is particularly in his 'elements' in the penultimate moments which involve emancipation of evil in fire or water.
The writing by Amin Hajee is conventional though he attempts to dish out some difference with the time-travel twist. The idea is never to establish the difference between the past and present era, like in Action Replayy , other than a song-dance number here and there. So no additional effort is required to recreate the bygone era, beyond the use of vintage cars or heritage structures. Also thankfully, not much time in expended on the protagonist's disbelief in the supernatural. Rehan comes to terms with the horror in his house pretty soon and probes into the puzzling past.
Vikram Bhatt spooks you more with the anticipation of the horror than the horror itself. You are anxious till the point the evil arrives but once it does, it fails to spook you. The sound effects are overdone, at instances. Of the few thrill and terror moments is the one where the possessed Achint Kaur wags out her extended tongue. Praveen Bhatt's cinematography aptly captures the beauty of the scenic hill-station. The dialogues, however, are clichéd to the core. Chirantan Bhatt's music comprise of some 'soulful' tunes.
Brent Robinson's stereography is commendable, as he adds depth to every frame with the new-age 3D technology. However, one does wish that there were more 'in your face' thrilling moments, which are the real beauty of any 3D film. Haunted doesn't tap the potential of a 3D film to the hilt. Nevertheless for a first of its kind effort, it's certainly praiseworthy. The length however could have been shorter, esp. with the viewer having to bear the burden of the heavy glasses for long.
Mahaakshay bears the same expression on his face throughout and seems too stiff. Tia Bajpai seems like a version of Celina Jaitly, both, in terms of look and performance. Arif Zakaria hams. Achint Kaur holds your attention for some time.
If the old world corniness of Ramsay's Saamri (which holds the actual claim for India's first 3D film, way back in 1985) still fascinates you, Haunted , too, could be a fun watch in the company of your friends. If you haven't seen Saamri , you haven't missed much. Haunted will take you back in time.
