Bhatt why?

Sheetal

The Bhatt camp has produced the maximum number of horror films in Hindi cinema. Their last outing was with actress Avika Gor. Titled ‘1920: Horrors of the Heart’, it was headlined by debutant director Krishna Bhatt. It failed miserably in theatres and now Vikram Bhatt’s ‘Bloody Ishq’, again with Avika in the lead role, seems intent to follow in the footsteps.

Neha, played by Avika, lives with her husband Romesh in a secluded mansion in a remote island of Scotland. Neha loses her memory following an accident but as soon as she gets back home, she observes some paranormal activity. Trying to uncover the truth about her accident and secrets in the house, she stumbles upon the factuality, which compels her to question her marriage with Romesh.

The script by Mahesh Bhatt offers no surprises. Love, lust and obsession are pretty common themes in his writing, but ‘Bloody Ishq’ has little to offer.

For a film with limited characters, at least the actors should hold their ground. Avika as the central character, Neha Rohin, delivers dialogues like a daily soap actress of ‘Sasural Simar Ka’, with a supernatural sequence. For the entire two-hour runtime, Vardhaan Puri as her husband Romesh Rohin has the same expression. As for Jeniffer Piccinato as Kimaya, aka the ghost, she does not frighten. The supporting actors do not matter and have more of a guest appearance.

As you enter the haunted house along with the protagonist, your soul leaves your body. Not because of the horror it unleashes, but because of the poor VFX quality.

Also, it is not a horror flick but more of a love story that goes nowhere. In times when horror comedies like ‘Munjya’ are minting money at the box office, a below-average melodramatic movie with hints of horror stands little chance of drawing in crowds. From the screenplay, acting, VFX budget to songs, nothing sticks.

There’s nothing new or innovative about the story, and though the Bhatt stamp is visible, the film lacks the verve of a Bhatt production. It is perhaps one of their most laidback projects. Little wonder then that the film was pulled out from a theatre release and the streaming rights were shifted to an OTT platform. It is another opportunity wasted. The project begs the question: Bhatt why?