For the most part of this eerie diorama, what else would’ve got our audiences hackneyed? Aye! A disembodied arm chocking one’s neck, ghosts fast-flying across the ceilings and nooks of the screen space, victim shuddering over worrying vexations and lastly, everything disappearing due to spiritual powers. Merely, these were so clichéd that they fail to scare even children these days. They would term it “silly”.
13B, directed by Vikram Kumar, belongs to the same family as THE RING and PULSE. No, it's not a copy of these two films, but there's an uncanny resemblance: A home appliance is used by the spirits to convey their message.
To give the credit where it's due, 13B involves you in the proceedings and most importantly, scares you as well. But the director, who also happens to be the writer of the film, ought to know an unwritten rule for movies of this genre. Cut it short. 13B is stretched, sorry over-stretched by at least 25-30 minutes and you just can't help but exclaim, 'Enough! Come to the point please.'
The film opens with Manohar’s (Madhavan) felicitous family moving into a new apartment on 13th Floor. A lovable family indeed, for we happen to witness their elated life of brothers occupied in corporate companies gagging-around in, their wives (Maddy’s wife – Neetu Chandra) preparing delicious dishes and their mom (Poonam Dhillon) an ardent buff of Saas-Bahu serials not ready to miss even a minute of the episode.
As the TV show unfolds, the incidents that happen in the show start happening to Manohar and his family. Initially, a number of happy events take place and a lot of good things happen, both in the show and with Manohar's family. Then things take a turn for the worse and shocking incidents start happening in the TV show.
Will the same happen to Manohar and his family? Will Manohar be able to solve the mystery in time before it consumes him and his entire family?
Vikram has played his cards right in bring out the best of thrills with unexpected twists and turns. Yeah! If you think you’re smart enough to predict what’s gonna happen next, you would fail miserably. The story keeps shifting at the right momentum that keeps everyone edge-seated. The filmmaker blends the spine-tingling horror with equal proportions of romance, family and what not? You’ve got a bit of humorous things too… At no point, the screenplay goes dropping back. Characterizations have been brilliantly depicted right from the protagonist till the smart black dog that serves its best.
Impertinently, Madhavan is excellent in picking the right scripts and he’s sure to make it big if he continues striding on the same path. Be it his romantic appeal or in the most of mixed-up situations, he’s top-notching. Although, we don’t see other characterizations limned so perfectly, they are up with their best efforts.
In exact terms, technical aspects eclipse the characters’ show. P.C. Sriram’s mind-boggling cinematography with unique sepia-bounded tones provides the film a different shade. Though songs aren’t more appealing, the background score is awesome. If the song ‘Sab Khariyat Hai’ has a pleasant touch, there’s something different you experience every time this song comes along the show. Editing by Sreekar Prasad is so elegant that it adds up building tension in every passing moment.
On the whole, ‘13B’ is one such unforeseen flick of horrendous genre that remains in your minds post-the show. It’s the best made horror film of the decade. Along the lists of top-charting directors Ram Gopal Varma and Vikram Bhatt, who made the best horror films, here’s Vikram Kumar striking jackpot with 13B.
Movie Ratings: ***
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