Dybukk (2021) :
Movie Review -
Dybbuk is an official hindi remake of Malayalam Horror Thriller 'Ezra' (2017), which, itself wasn'tt a great flick. If you remember those horror formulas from dozens of Hollywood flicks then there's nothing new for you in this film. For instance, recently people are going gaga over 'The Conjuring Universe' and there is doll named 'Annabelle' in it. A doll is brought home by the family and then horrifying nightmares begin. Instead of a doll, we have a Dybbuk box here. Rest, you know how it goes and how it ends. But wait, there is a twist in the climax which was earlier used in Malayalam Cult 'Manichithrathazhu' (1993) and for Emraan Fans there was 'Raaz Reboot' too, in 2016. The actual possessed person is fooled by pretending that someone else is possessed, that's all. It's not a mind-blowing twist or something like that but somehow it works because it comes as a surprise element.
Dybbuk is a fine copy-paste of Ezra but as we know the film is presented to Hindi audience which is quite different from Malayalis, few minor changes are made. Mahi (Nikita Dutta) and Sam (Emraan Hashmi) shift to a new house and plans to make their family life better. But theirs plans are shattered when Mahi brings an antique Dybbuk home. Dybbuk, in Jewish mythology, is a possessing spirit believed to be the dislocated soul of a dead person. Sam meets couple of people who can help him to cure Mahi and then begins a search of secrets from the past.
Writing wise, Dybbuk is an outdated horror script but turning things up and down in the climax makes it watchable. Even the original Malayalam movie had loopes but that was okay for regional industry level because they don't make horror thrillers regularly. But i Bollywood, horror movies have been attempted before and so many times, with difference sub-genres. Ramsay Bros's movies scared audiences in that era and so did Bhatt Films. That notion of making contemporary okayish films needs to be broken which is not happening and Dybbuk falls under the same roof. The screenplay is scattered for like long 80 minutes. Thankfully, those 20-25 minutes in the conclusive part make you forgive earlier blunders and you feel like, 'Oh.. yes. It ends'. Such a big relief it is.
Talking about the performance, Emraan Hashmi is pretty good as Sam. You can't like him much as he does nothing new but you can't dislike him either. Nikita Dutta and Gaurav Sharma goes unnoticed whereas Manav Kaul gets one or two scenes for which you can remember him. Music is dull, background score is somewhat noticeable and sets designing is decent. Jay K, who directed the original film as well, tries nothing innovative even though couple of scenes had scope for improvements. As a whole, Dybbuk is a lame attempt somehow saved by thriller segments just when it was about to fall on face. Strictly Average!
RATING - 5/10*
Dybbuk is an official hindi remake of Malayalam Horror Thriller 'Ezra' (2017), which, itself wasn'tt a great flick. If you remember those horror formulas from dozens of Hollywood flicks then there's nothing new for you in this film. For instance, recently people are going gaga over 'The Conjuring Universe' and there is doll named 'Annabelle' in it. A doll is brought home by the family and then horrifying nightmares begin. Instead of a doll, we have a Dybbuk box here. Rest, you know how it goes and how it ends. But wait, there is a twist in the climax which was earlier used in Malayalam Cult 'Manichithrathazhu' (1993) and for Emraan Fans there was 'Raaz Reboot' too, in 2016. The actual possessed person is fooled by pretending that someone else is possessed, that's all. It's not a mind-blowing twist or something like that but somehow it works because it comes as a surprise element.
Dybbuk is a fine copy-paste of Ezra but as we know the film is presented to Hindi audience which is quite different from Malayalis, few minor changes are made. Mahi (Nikita Dutta) and Sam (Emraan Hashmi) shift to a new house and plans to make their family life better. But theirs plans are shattered when Mahi brings an antique Dybbuk home. Dybbuk, in Jewish mythology, is a possessing spirit believed to be the dislocated soul of a dead person. Sam meets couple of people who can help him to cure Mahi and then begins a search of secrets from the past.
Writing wise, Dybbuk is an outdated horror script but turning things up and down in the climax makes it watchable. Even the original Malayalam movie had loopes but that was okay for regional industry level because they don't make horror thrillers regularly. But i Bollywood, horror movies have been attempted before and so many times, with difference sub-genres. Ramsay Bros's movies scared audiences in that era and so did Bhatt Films. That notion of making contemporary okayish films needs to be broken which is not happening and Dybbuk falls under the same roof. The screenplay is scattered for like long 80 minutes. Thankfully, those 20-25 minutes in the conclusive part make you forgive earlier blunders and you feel like, 'Oh.. yes. It ends'. Such a big relief it is.
Talking about the performance, Emraan Hashmi is pretty good as Sam. You can't like him much as he does nothing new but you can't dislike him either. Nikita Dutta and Gaurav Sharma goes unnoticed whereas Manav Kaul gets one or two scenes for which you can remember him. Music is dull, background score is somewhat noticeable and sets designing is decent. Jay K, who directed the original film as well, tries nothing innovative even though couple of scenes had scope for improvements. As a whole, Dybbuk is a lame attempt somehow saved by thriller segments just when it was about to fall on face. Strictly Average!
RATING - 5/10*