Ghoul (2018) User Reviews

Daring, Eerie and Innovative

[SnigBhaumik · 8/10 · 1 July 2019]

Daring, because they didn't care about possible oppressions of those so called religion based fanatics, or those groups of so called patriots.

Eerie, because soon after some 20 mins of the very first episode, you feel the chiller in your spine, and that just keeps on growing.

Innovative, because mixing of military acts and terrorist conducts with deep horror is almost a new genre.

The sets are quite befitting, so are the actors. Camera, lighting, editing are just apt. The story is the most powerful weapon of the series. What sometimes draws you back are the dialogs, those could be written in a more matured and legitimate manner - the series could have been top notch.

This dish is only for those who can digest the darkest and sinister side of human character and the hellish secrets.

Grand achievement, Netflix. We love you for these.

Good effort

[chatto-60497 · 8/10 · 26 August 2018]

His is a really good effort at breaking boundaries in Indian TV , depicting a dystopian future , good charachters and good storyline. Will look forward to season 2

Don't believe other reviews about propaganda.

[PakistanFilmUpdates · 7/10 · 27 August 2018]

This movie shows the real truth of human nature. Religions community picking on another. There is always religions outbreaks, and call it salvation to victory or peace. This movie shows south Asia's people will never identify each other as equals and take easy way out too to think their great. Muslims and Hindus really need to notice we all have a demon within both sides.

Wow. So many misleading low rates reviews

[mehmoodqadir · 10/10 · 16 May 2019]

The reviews here are just unbelievable. What an illiterate audience. Over last 12 years and after watching countless movies and shows, this is the first time I am writing a review to defend this absolute beauty of a show.

It's a genius work of fiction. Only the people who dont really understand fiction will be giving low rating and bad review here..

This is definitely a must watch. Fictions do allow for plots against thorny ideaologies and infact that's where the power of fiction truly lies.

It was horror, mystery and thriller at it's best with some great acting. Unique in its approach and feast for any horror lover. Dont go with negative reviews which are triggered more by sentimentality than the actual quality of the show.

Watch and judge for yourself. But if you cant tolerate or absorb an anti-popular or politically difficult stance, than this isnt for you maybe.

Merely propaganda

[pathakj · 25 August 2018]

I had some genuine expectations from the show but it turns out to be one terrible propaganda driven mini series instead of content driven. I'm okay with how cleverly it was done with sacred games but here it's more like pushing it down your throat. Netflix should have a liberal spine but that doesn't mean you will rub your back against our face. I was expecting so much from this show as this is one of the weakest genre in the industry that deserves some class movie, serial but turns out to be a big disappointment. I think the shortage of budgets limited the make up, could've done better with better props and uniforms. I don't know but sometimes the acting was just not convincing enough. You can definitely give it a go but don't expect much, yes I'm salted for stupid inclusion of some topics that were not required and seems like forced on viewers unnecessarily but that's just my opinion.

Weak Script, Lazy Writing

[sagar-swapna · 6/10 · 26 August 2018]

I ll judge it as per Netflix standards not on Indian Television standards. Ghoul was supposed to be a movie, shooting was almost complete thats when Netflix chipped in asked them to make it a mini series, Netflix means freedom so added some religious hatred element, few gory scenes and bit of extra footage split it into 3 course meal and served it Raw.

First of all the religion hatred stuff by the govt was totally unnecessary they showed the Indian version of Handmaids Tale geared towards religion. I could not digest why Nida would give up her father Cuz there was no backstory that he was on the verge of becoming a terrorist. Captain Das character was not at all well written completely 2 dimensional her behavior was not of a smart strong cop. Basically none of the story lines were well written the characters were 2 dimensional. Some terrible acting by Soldiers. The existence of Col Dacuna's character not needed. First 2 episodes they tried to build some tension turned out to be boring. Was expecting a good 3rd episode but everything looked so low budget. It is a low budget series but the art is not to make it look like a low budget series.

Lazy writing, poor art work and direction has created a disaster of a story which had great potential. May be they should hve started from scratch get some more budget. I dont think those 3 episodes would hve cost more than 2 crores to make. Im going with 6/10 for Ghoul no 2nd season needed sorry.

It's awesome and mirrors our society

[abhishekbhatt006 · 10/10 · 27 August 2018]

It's really a good TV series. I have a little different perspective about this story. It's not just another horror series. It's much more than that. It's a mirror of how our society is functioning. If one can ignore those gory scenes, ugly faces and high pitch sound, there is a background message in the story. Ghoul as a monster is a metaphor representing an idea or ideology (like Jihad, ISIS, religion etc). This monster is created by combination of below two sections of the society:

1) Radhika's boss represents first section that are in authority and do injustice. They are the trigger to all these horror events. They are very proud of what they are doing but don't consider the long-term impact of their actions. Eventually, there action results in creation of a monster.

2) Radihika's father represents intellectual's people of society. They are good people but are oppressed by first section. They have knowledge and ability to create an ideology(i.e. Monster i.e. Ghoul)

Some similarity that I observed:

a) Like an idea, the Ghoul can continue to exist indefinitely even after its creator's death.

b) Once Ghoul bites/eat you, it becomes like you. Similarly, once that idea takes over someone, they lose their own identity and becomes a Ghoul themselves.

c) It's difficult to identify who among us are Ghoul. Similarly, it's difficult to identify the person who sometime can be our friend, relative, colleague and is possessed by that idea.

Radhika represent people who are intellectual, brave and believe in system. They are real hero and have ability to kill monster. At the end when she kills her boss, she was not sure whether he is converted to monster or is still original human. Still she kills him because she understand that he is the real reason for creation of monster and that way is a monster himself.

At the end, the cycle begins again, when the people in authority do injustice with Radhika and sends her to jail. So, first section makes mistake again and second section again decides to create another monster.

One can question, why to show this in such a gory horror way. My answer is that the impacts of these cycles are similar to what is shown in this tv series. They kill and destroy many people lives (in much larger scale) which can be categorized as nothing but pure horror.

just watch it before someone spoils it for you!!!

[abhiverma-26021 · 7/10 · 24 August 2018]

Just brilliant wasn't expecting this from the show. unlike sacred sacred games this is in complete coherence and doesn't use over the top abusive language or unnecessary nude scenes just to get more viewers. radhika apte will surprise you. here and there hindi dialogue flow looks bit broken(not smooth flow) but ignorable.

Scary, thrilling and best horror drama ever made in India

[nicks-055 · 9/10 · 25 August 2018]

I am not much into the horror, however, the trailers has pulled me to watch the episodes. It will have a mild start but its gets better with every episode. In the end you will be glad that you have chosen it to watch.

Must watch and dont give it any political view. Its just awesome.

Horror and mystery mix

[meme-36137 · 7/10 · 26 August 2018]

The term propaganda is rampantly used for this show, I did not consider it propaganda it is set in a different time and the setting reflects a sectarian divide, it is fiction, it would have been propaganda if the show tried to impose certain beliefs on you. The show has an eerie feel to it I liked the atmosphere of the show and the acting was good. Take it for what it is a horror and mystery infused story with a religious touch. I feel the show tried to convey that the truth cannot remain hidden no matter how hard one tries.

what a disappointment

[KrutiPaneri · 1/10 · 25 August 2018]

I was a big fan of Radhika Apte. But this is next level disappointment in every aspect

Heavy on atmosphere, solid premise n effectively creepy.

[Fella_shibby · 10/10 · 27 August 2018]

If u have enjoyed Gallows hill aka The damned (2013), Let us prey (2014), Outpost (2008) & Deathwatch (2002), then u will definitely enjoy this film. Awesome premise n cinematography. The sets are effectively claustrophobic n atmospheric. The director did a great job at making it look as raw and gray as possible. The military prison has the right combination of fascist and sinister combination. The dark halls of the underground prison do create some great tension. Radhika apte acted well n she has a kind of eerie charm that lends her a sort of strange attractiveness beyond physical beauty. The guy who played the colonel is very underrated. He deserves more films. This film has a perfect tone of suspense, violence, story, action n music score. Fascism is more scary than any demon. The gun shot splatter scenes will satisfy the gore hounds but i wish there was more shotgun violence. The guy who played the torture king aka Faulad singh, is he the same guy from Samri ?

Nice series !

[nnk-39990 · 7/10 · 21 December 2018]

Radhika apte and other lead were very good in this series , gripping as well .

An amazing disaster!!

[themask-26402 · 1/10 · 25 August 2018]

A promising starcast, crew, a great premise and a gripping background score has collectively delivered and unnecessary rant of fake state intolerance and probable future backlash. This this piece of disastrous work cannot be solely seen as work of fiction or entertainment especially keeping in mind the anti-dispensation/state stand or hatred displayed by one of its capable crew members. What could possibly have been a great horror flick turns out to be a cheap, third grade, monotonous sponsored rant in the garb of a horror show......

You just need to watch it don't believe anyone...

[rockg-95969 · 10/10 · 29 August 2018]

Great..................................................................................

Intersting

[shreyvats · 24 August 2018]

Love is blind and when that blind love for the country is taken advantage of by those in power, it's time to step back and distinguish between the two. The country will always come first but does the country want us to kill because the administrators are saying so? #ghoul #intresting #netflix

Something New

[mady66 · 7/10 · 28 August 2018]

Nicely directed.. Apte's performance was excellent as of the other. Story line is interesting .. bit different than that of regular TV series. It's not that horror but yes you will couple of heartbeats. Ending could have been better. Overall one must watch.

Don't believe those reviews with 1 rating, it's a great horror show

[arshi-anand · 10/10 · 24 August 2018]

Most of the people writing negative reviews are the ones who are part of a propoganda of negative review bombing for whatever goes against their beliefs. They can't accept fiction as fiction but believe it's propoganda but believe Mahabharat and Ramayan was not fiction.

Now coming to the positives of the show, Radhika Apte has done a brilliant job, and the story is intriguing as well.I I would've rated it 9 but had to give it 10 because of these review bombers.

Good ... Could have been better

[Atrey_Doury · 7/10 · 24 August 2018]

First of all, Ghoul is not an out - and - out horror series. Secondly, even over three episodes of about 45 minutes each i.e. 135 minutes in total it feels stretched. Lastly, for a production that attempts at tugging human values of freedom for its emotional quotient, its characters are formulaic and detached. I certainly did not feel invested with any of the characters. The result is a production that leaves a lot to be desired.

The premise is excruciatingly good, and needed a script that invested time and effort into developing all its contours. The atmospheric feel is fantastic. In fact, sans atmospherics this production would not have merited its current rating. Kudos to the director. It is the nigh claustrophobic environs and the photography that truly delivers a haunting canvas. Unfortunately, the script does not justify the canvas. It is light and merely surface - deep.

Mahesh Balraj as Al - Saeed is fantastic. The special effects are decent and performances from other actors are at par without being of note. Background music justifies its tones. Certainly, one of the better if not the best quasi - horror Indian production. Certainly watchable and warrants a recommendation to that effect.

PS: I have rated it as 7 because it is good. I am disappointed because it could have been so much better.

Great series

[sparsh-73733 · 9/10 · 25 August 2018]

Why can't all the people badmouthing this series just watch it for pure entertainment and keep their nationalism aside for a bit. There are other better ways to show your patriotism I enjoyed the series very much . It was horror with a deep aspect to it. People giving low ratings quite probably didn't get it.

Might have loved it if it's a genuine creative mind of the director rather than copied, so called inspired, story

[harishmbbssmc · 7/10 · 26 August 2018]

GHOUL , Loved the title that's y saw it. I might have loved it if it's a true imagination of the story writer, but it's a copied one. Isn't it a story inspired or copied from 2014 movie LET US PREY ??? Anyway I liked couple of dialogues " Aren't we the people who got misguided always " ...etc and at the same time I wanna question the intention of the director. You have projected a sympatitst or terrorists view and the revenge taken by his daughter. I do agree the atrocities caused by Armed people ,nomatter its military or police , should brought to justice. But my question is what about the atrocities committed by the same terrorists or sympathisers against common people and police, military ? What about them ??? People of certain religions always got misguided and worked against this country. Do u accept such atrocities against your own country Mr Patrick Graham ? Do u ?? Will u project Ur, I mean Ur own people , atrocities against Indians and the whole world ??? If a patriot got killed , u d t even care, but if a terrorist dies people like u make movies sympathizing them. People like Shanwaz Rahim, Ur so called character, are sympathizers of violence and practices of black magic. How can u support them ??? Not proper mister. U should have projected the aspects of people who r sacrificing their lives for the sake of country. Not for the people who works against this country.

a political propaganda in form of horror-doesn't worth the time

[bhardwaj-abhishek-it · 1/10 · 25 August 2018]

Its just a blatant attempt against the current government,simply shown that state is acting against a specific community. radhika apte is good but the fact that they have chosen a foreigner to direct a indian show,can be found in dialogue delivery as no hinding speaking person will speak in such manner.Also its dragged two long,could have been ended in two episodes only.They presnt it as a horror show but its hardy any scary and role of major das is simply irritating and they hardly worked on other character as well.In short waste of time

Its pronounced as "GUL"

[hiteshnimsarkar · 10/10 · 29 August 2018]

This is a good horror series. It's something new and not your usual horror movie/series.

Netflix has done a good job.

Lot of reviewers say unnecessary mention of religion!! Its a fiction series, watch like one.

3 episodes of 40 mins each wont harm you. WATCH IT.

I give story 9/10

Okish.. - Nothing close to Sacred Games

[mymailaayush · 6/10 · 25 August 2018]

The show starts fine with decent direction and acting. It gives a desi touch to sci-fi, drama, thriller and historical genre and feels quite inspired from several hollywood classics. The story line was inconsistent and the characters were not developed to keep things interesting. Ok for a watch, dont expect much though..

Pathetic, Dull and Bore

[hemantabbott-58154 · 1/10 · 25 August 2018]

I will not go into religious elements, which the writers just wanted to showcase with all their heart and soul. But seriously after watching Sacred Games my hopes was high at least I was expecting some good story line, but this series is a big FLOP and didn't portray any horror or thriller which we see in other Hollywood Drama series. My hopes are all shattered after watching this mini series. Better watch something else than wasting your time on this three part non-sense.