Monthly Archives: June 2026

Influencers

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Vampire Owl: I still do not understand why humans call some online people influencers.

Vampire Bat: These online people have the power to affect the purchasing decisions and behaviours of others, through their presence and content on social media platforms.

Vampire Owl: But we are influenced by everyone around us.

Vampire Bat: Yes, but these people consider this as their job.

Vampire Owl: We also influence people, don’t we?

Vampire Bat: Yes, but we do not make people buy things.

Vampire Owl: That should be because we do not take cash to talk of a product.

Vampire Bat: So, technically, the influencers are those who do ads.

Vampire Owl: It feels like celebrities coming in advertisements.

Vampire Bat: True, those celebrities have always been the influencers, never really using the products, but taking cash to speak high of them.

[Gets a uzhunnu vada and three cups of Yercaud tea].

What is the movie about? :: The movie begins by showing a visibly disturbed woman cutting her own throat after looking at the mobile phone. Meanwhile, it is seen that Catherine (Cassandra Naud) had left behind her past of taking on the identities of influencers on social media after abducting or murdering them. Her last victim Madison (Emily Tennant) had remained a suspect in the murders of influencers and their friends while nobody had any proof to make her a suspect – at least a photo of her to prove her to be the mastermind behind identity theft and killings was never to be discovered anywhere. Madison’s influencer life ended as she was continuously blamed online for the murders despite the court letting her go – she no longer remains a face for the advertisers who have gone after new viral names. Meanwhile, Catherine manages to hide nicely in France, and also finding a lesbian partner in a photographer named Diane (Lisa Delamar). This relationship goes stable as it becomes more and more romantic and intimate with their first anniversary which they decide to celebrate with another trip.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: As they decide to get the best room in a hotel to share their intimacy, Catherine is frustrated to find out that the hotel had given the same room to an influencer Charlotte (Georgina Campbell), seemingly to get some promotion of their property. As Charlotte seems to message her and ask her to give her company on a journey, Catherine is further irritated. She gets out of the room early, and after finding Charlotte, tells her that she will accompany her and will take some nice photos. They go to an abandoned monument to take some special photos and she pushes Charlotte off to her death. After the act, she begins to impersonate the influencer on social media as she had done a long time ago. She even messages Diane from Charlotte’s mobile phone that she had left for Spain to make the disappearance feel natural to her. As Charlotte, like many other online influencers, did not have many friends in real life, which leads to her going missing being attributed to her usual journeys.

The defence of Influencers :: There is the strength of dark humour that this movie uses to effectiveness, as Cassandra Naud seems to make use of the same perfectly. Her negative role is something that need to become a measuring scale for similar performances of later – the close shots show the perfection in her facial expressions, and it is like the mark on her face also performs with her. The movie does make fun of the hashtag obsession, digital narcissism and unmatched addiction for social media in a way in which the movie world is in the realistic mode. In a world in which people create videos for money praising something and call themselves influencer despite not really knowing a product, the question remains if the word “influencer” can ever be used in a positive way. Well, during these days, people get viral by doing all the nonsense, and otherwise, there is the option to show partial nudity as much as it is allowed on the social media; Instagram being the most affected platform. It is always fair to satirize this kind of a situation as it influences the youth so much, and even causes suicides.

Positives and negatives :: There are moments when the movie seems to have missed chances for making it bigger, and the psychological terror could have reached bigger heights – but those are just small elements in a movie which makes uses of its minutes so well that even if it was a longer movie, we would have continued to watch it with the same interest. The visuals are so good with locations in France, Thailand and Bali. We get immersed in so many moments of the movie, as the antagonist’s manipulation is so good, as she known when to be a psychotic killer with a knife or axe, an intimate and romantic lover, a seductive beauty who sheds her clothes or a damsel in distress with tears coming out of her eyes as the situation demands. The way in which this difficult character with multiple shades has been done to perfection by Cassandra Naud is something nobody will miss around here. We would love to see her in a full horror movie with a psychotic serial killer or supernatural entity on the other side – she could be a scream queen of something like Evil Dead, Scream, Halloween or other long franchises or the next generation ones like X, I Heart Willie and others that we are to cherish for a long time. Just watch the final scene of fighting and stabbing and you will know.

The performers of the soul :: Cassandra Naud’s performance here might be the strongest element of the movie, as she elevates the whole thing at the beginning itself. It can be seen that she carries the movie with unparalleled confidence, and she does the same for a role which would have made the common actresses struggle or even overact, as we have seen in many cases. Even in those scenes which seem serene, her expressions and body language create such tension and the fear that the whole situation is going to be more twisted. The chaos in her cuteness and beauty will be something that we remember, and the way in which she manages that with grace is her class as an antagonist to remember. The chance to be a loud and exaggerated villain is avoided, and she is just too good in this manner – calm, calculated and manipulative like never before. Her friendliness and detachment and going there and back feels so good. The facial birthmark adds to the uniqueness of her character’s screen presence making the character so much visually and intellectually memorable. The others, especially Emily Tennant, Lisa Delamar and Veronica Lang shines and Jonathan Whitesell nicely adds to the same.

How it finishes :: Influencers is that movie which keeps one interested with dark humour and a possibility of infinite horror that too in a realistic way, as Cassandra Naud leads the path in a manner that not many lady antagonists have done before. She breathes life into this movie and raises the bar, keeping us wondering and surprised with different moments. Even though I have not watched the first movie, it feels that this can only be an improvement on that one unless that one had some special ingredient other than being the first of the franchise. The sharp commentary on influencer culture is the need of our world indeed. If you enjoy those modern psychological thrillers about identity, fame and online obsession, this is surely the movie for you, and Cassandra Naud’s magnetic performance attracts you more and more as your time in the movie passes, and despite her being the antagonist, you want to see her more, and keep asking for a sequel. Such a demand is just natural as she is indeed too good.

Release date: 12th December 2025
Running time: 110 minutes
Directed by: Kurtis David Harder
Starring: Cassandra Naud, Emily Tennant, Georgina Campbell, Lisa Delamar, Jonathan Whitesell, Veronica Long, Dylan Playfair

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@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Popeye’s Revenge

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Vampire Owl: Isn’t this that person known as Popeye the Sailor Man?

Vampire Bat: Well, this character entered the public domain in the United States of America.

Vampire Owl: This reminds me of those other movies which dealt with similar idea.

Vampire Bat: Well, these childhood icons were truly killers, I would say.

Vampire Owl: Yes, the truth that William Golding said about children, right?

Vampire Bat: The children are all inherently evil, we know.

Vampire Owl: Even the newly reborn vampires are no different from the same.

Vampire Bat: Children in their original form are children of the night.

Vampire Owl: But we are also children of the night, aren’t we?

Vampire Bat: But we are less evil compared to humans who lack even basic goodness.

[Gets a bourbon biscuit and three cups of Ooty tea].

What is the movie about? :: Johnny (Steven Murphy) is a man with a troubled past. As child, his peculiar appearance with muscular forearms and a strange chin made him the target of continuous bullying at school, and his love for sailor outfit had not made things any better. One day, after a bully hurts a girl who tried to save him from bullying, the boy ends up killing one of his tormentors by strangulation which also leads to the boy’s eyes popping out of their sockets. To protect their son, his parents hide him in their basement, where he befriends an unseen person slipping supportive messages from under the door of another locked door there. But the townspeople who are driven by fear and anger for the unknown psychotic child tries to seek vengeance on the ugly, brutal killer and set the house on fire. He escapes while his father and mother burns in the fire, but seemingly drowns in a nearby lake which keeps the angry people of the local town relieved and satisfied about the boy’s fate.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Fifteen years later, a group of vloggers Alan (Kyle Jordan), Cherry (Eva Ray) and Mia (Danielle Scott) visit the area for their episode of Haunted Houses of Evil, a series taking the viewers inside the homes of murderers. This time, they talk about the killer boy Johny who is called Popeye for his looks, and his house is being renovated by new owners who have no idea about what to do with the house as there has been so many disappearances in the area. They try to make it feel that Popeye’s ghost in haunting the area, but Mia who sees some movement in the fog is concerned about what is happening around there. They keep moving around in the unusual fog, and Alan goes to the basement with Cherry while Mia sets up the sound for the shooting before the owners or the locals show up. In the basement, Cherry removes her clothes and seduces Alan, and while they are having sex, Popeye drops in and kills both of them. He also kills Mia who wanders further in the fog. But this disappearance goes unnoticed as nobody knew that they were there.

And what more is to happen with one of the strangest killers on the loose in the fog? :: The house gets transferred to the name of Lora (Amanda Jane York), a former teacher at the school where Popeye has studied as a kid, and she along with her husband George (Oliver Mason) have plans for the house, while their daughter Tara (Emily Mogilner) comes up with an even bigger plan, to make it a haunted house attraction which can become one of the best in the state with the kind of backstory it possessed. She had listened to the story from different people she knew, and her boyfriend Dylan (Connor Powles) agrees to the same. They are joined by their best friend Donna (Danielle Ronald), her boyfriend Nick (Bruno Cryan), his secret sex partner Sky (Atlanta Moreno), quick money seeker Kathy (Karolina Ugrenyuk) and a nerdy Max (Fyn Phoenixx) who are all looking for some extra pocket money which Tara has promised them along with a few interesting nights on a charming holiday mood in the cabin in the woods. With tension running between Donna and Sky to claim Nick as their own, the group has to deal with the killer and a seemingly insane woman named Olive (Kelly Rian Sanson), can they do it before facing death?

The defence of Popeye’s Revenge :: Here is another unstoppable force of a psycho killer, and this is someone right out of our childhood, a hero turned into pure evil. This makes the whole situation different from Halloween, Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer or any other which comes as the natural slasher antagonists of ultimate chaos. To add to it, we have a fine setting, an environment which keeps the horror going with a supernatural touch, as the villain is someone who will keep coming at you. There are some practical horror moments with a lot of interesting kill scenes, with the bath-tub murder bringing the best of it – the grasscutter and many others do follow the same as the full slasher mode is switched on; there was also a test does in the beginning when we look closer to it. This violence clashes with the nostalgia creating a new world of favourite childhood terror. The isolated house in the middle of nowhere and stalking by a resurrected monster makes the blood and gore that much more interesting in this world of childhood monsters. The fear is nicely generated in the situation which is leaves with no options to escape.

The claws of flaw :: The movie often feels particularly suited for the slasher audience, and the rest might not enter this world with that much of an ease, as a certain amount of specialization can be felt, never going out of that self-imposed restriction. If one thinks much more about, there can be a feeling of missed opportunity, and it might be due to the lack of budget that provides such a feeling. If there is a second movie with the same character, one might be able to find a better budget and bigger scenes out there. The slasher effect can be seen the best in the group of youth involved here, as they are mostly generic slasher victims whom we have talked about in The Cabin in the Woods which explored the whole genre model. We once again have the young group coming, getting hunted, some of them dying, followed by an attempt to survive, and there is some success with the antagonist killed or almost murdered and coming back. The character development was minimum even though they have managed some balance by letting the characters work on some interesting moments.

How it finishes :: Popeye the Sailor Man as the one-eyed, spinach-loving cartoon sailor known for his superhuman strength after eating spinach, and having Olive as girlfriend, has defined our childhood for quite a long time. But this time, we see the other side of him, and these twists related to our childhood characters depicting them as murderous monsters in the form of a different Steamboat Willie, Winnie-the-Pooh, Peter Pan, Bambi etc, continues to make an impact. The movie’s quality might be called into question here as we do not seem to have the budget in its favour here, but still, it shall entertain in its own way as a slasher in the usual old model. While not going on a polished horror model, this one still manages to raise its level without trying too hard and following the usual policy. After watching this version of one of the greatest cartoon characters of all-time, it is yet to be seen if we will see Popeye as the same cartoony person again, for this character is also going to stay, and the version will stay in the slasher list for some time.

Release date: 13th February 2025
Running time: 80 minutes
Directed by: William Stead
Starring: Steven Murphy, Emily Mogilner, Connor Powles, Danielle Ronald, Bruno Cryan, Atlanta Moreno, Karolina Ugrenyuk, Fyn Phoenixx, Kyle Jordan, Eva Ray, Danielle Scott, Amanda Jane York, Oliver Mason, Kathi DeCouto, Paul Frost, Kelly Rian Sanson, Clarisse Félix, Max Arlott

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Sukhamano Sukhamann

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Vampire Owl: Are they asking if we are doing well here in this realm without all the human chaos and hatred?

Vampire Bat: Well, in the Dracula Castle, everyone can only be well.

Vampire Owl: Yes, immortality itself makes one feel better.

Vampire Bat: I see dead people walking in this movie too.

Vampire Owl: Are they real or just hallucinations?

Vampire Bat: A few things which are real to some people might be unreal to others.

Vampire Owl: Yes, just like humans do not believe that we, werewolves and witches exist.

Vampire Bat: Like we do not believe in the nonsense by most of those romantic movies.

Vampire Owl: Most of the new generation movies are clear nonsense to us.

Vampire Bat: I am actually surprised that some of them really made so much money.

[Gets a paneer patty and three cups of boba tea].

What is the movie about? :: Theo (Mathew Thomas) is a shy and lonely young man who has been living alone since the death of his father. He was mocked and isolated by his schoolmates and later by the people around him, with no real relative or friend for support. Those who knew his father tries in vain to get him settled, but his strange behaviour always comes in the way, and he ends up losing his jobs one after the other, the last one being that of a driver. Going on and on with the trauma and loneliness, he finally gets the job as an ambulance driver with Ipe (Jagadish) who is in charge of a funeral home and spends much of his time collecting and transporting the dead bodies for funerals. As he continues with this kind of a work for a long time, Theo begins to have some strange visions of the dead people, who become his unusual companions that visits his home and stays with him as new members of a family which never existed. Ipe remains a kind-hearted mentor for him too, as he seems more settled in his new job than ever, but still feels incomplete.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Theo’s world gets more life with dead people such as Vallyapachan (Spadikam George) whom he first meets and finds in his house, followed by Vallyammachi (Kudassanad Kanakam), Unni Chettan (Noby Marcose), Tabalist Gopu (Akhil R C Kavalayoorand), Rapper Porottakkaran (Abin Bino) and even a Japanese lady who dies in Cochin, and these are the people who bring meaning to his life. All these people point to the fact that Theo needs a lady love in his life. It is then that he comes across the flex about the death of Charu (Devika Sanjay), and it turns out that she was never really dead, but someone who is dying, with doctors giving her a maximum of two to three months maximum to live. Meeting her in an act of death in advance with paid actors, both Theo and Ipe become good friends with her, as she had come to Australia searching for her relatives. They try to make her believe that they are her relatives as she hopes for the best final moments of her life. Can they give it to her or will she have to leave for Australia too soon?

The defence of Sukhamano Sukhamann :: The way in which the movie explores isolation, and the human need for companionship in a sweet manner with hope needs to be appreciated – it is not an easy thing to do as we cannot always have the same in control with the deviations in such a topic so easily possible. The creation of emotional bonding with the dead to live in a world of humans is an idea less tried, but with an emotional touch and never going through the darker side, this one achieves its goals rather easily. The combination of fantasy or rather magic realism with comedy running through to give a cute and comforting feeling makes this movie one real feel- good. Wherever you look, you never really find tense moments; the abiding sadness and feeling of loss would be there, but it never gets to that level when we are thrown into an abyss of hopelessness. At least that much is expected to survive in our world of chaos, hostility and hatred. We understand loss as part of life and we move on with this movie, with the understanding that the world needs us. There are moments when we fear that hope is going to be lost, but the same is not the case, and we get the brighter side.

Positives and negatives :: One can still blame the script for not fully developing into a story with heavy motivational strength, and can keep hoping for a push during some occasions. The uneven pacing does not serve the purpose at times, and there is a certain lack of attempt to elevate it to a classic magic realism or fantasy. The ending would also seem like something which arrived too quickly, that too when everyone was getting even more interested. Yet, one can notice that the lightest moments here are delivered by some of the ghostly characters who also serve as comic relief as much as they are the reminders or metaphors of a past that refuses to leave a world which has already said goodbye to them. The visuals also support the overall mood of the movie, and how it supports the progress also needs some appreciation. The emotional depth works exactly as we would want it to, never really letting the melodrama in, but we are left to ponder over the feelings. The short tun-time also works in its favour. The music and sound track provide some smooth support from behind. At least some hope in humanity gets restored with this one, and we can only be glad about it.

The performers of the soul :: Mathew Thomas successfully comes up with a natural and believable boy-next-door charm to his character, and he is once again the character we sympathize with, just like he had in Kumbalangi Nights and Thannermathan Dinangal. Despite the seemingly negative campaign against him online, one has to say that he has continued to deliver fine performances in most of his works. The emotional impact that he has managed to deliver is indeed memorable, unlike those bigger rated actors of the same age. At the same time, we see that after that classic performance on debut in which she played another dying girl in Njan Prakashan, and that charming work in Makal, Devika Sanjay has come up with another performance to remember. There is a certain quantity of happiness factor about her performance, and the positivity of the character is only balanced by her joyful screen presence. Jagadish remains solid in this movie, and extends the feel-good as much as the emotional side. Among the rest of the cast, Sphadikam George and Nobi Marcose stands taller than the rest.

How it finishes :: The movie serves as a small-scale fantasy drama that tries to tell a heartfelt story about loss, loneliness, grief and the importance of human connection in life. It scores with an unusual premise on a young man who finds companionship among dead people living with him. This feel-good with an emotional touch makes sure that those who love the gentle fantasy stories above the fast-paced commercial entertainers are not to be disappointed. The fact that the more delusional feel-good Sarvam Maya released a month or two before might have affected the total run of this movie, but this is that flick which deserved better. In the world of new generation Premalu, Avesham and Vaazha, this is the kind of movie that we need to come up with the real feel-good, something which does not glorify silly violence or alcohol, but people who wish to make the world better. Being a sincere, good-natured film which never ceases to have a kind heart and hope for the future is much needed in a universe of chaos and inherent evil. If people do not like this one enough, it is a change which might not be in the right direction – well, people did not even like Mili, which reminds us that our people rarely like divergent people who are good at heart, and instead go for the alcoholics, goons and drug addicts like most of the relationships of these times reflect.

Release date: 13 February 2026
Running time: 107 minutes
Directed by: Arun Lal Ramachandran
Starring: Mathew Thomas, Devika Sanjay, Jagadish, Sphadikam George, Kudassanad Kanakam, Nobi Marcose, Akhil Kavalayoor, Manikuttan, Jibin Gopinath, Abin Bino, Taba Reema, Gayathri Mayura, Sandhya Manoj

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Whistle

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Vampire Owl: I have a doubt whether these people are fans of Chennai Super Kings.

Vampire Bat: I am sure that there are not talking about a normal whistle.

Vampire Owl: All whistles are normal enough for the undead.

Vampire Bat: You mean to say that even dead whistling through life is normal?

Vampire Owl: Well, if death decides to do so, who am I to complain?

Vampire Bat: You should remember that it is still not normal behaviour.

Vampire Owl: If you include Chennai Super Kings, it will stay normal.

Vampire Bat: You should understand that we Chennai fans do not blow an Aztec Death Whistle.

Vampire Owl: Let there be death whistles to all the opponent teams.

Vampire Bat: I am sure that you will be banned from all IPL stadiums soon enough.

[Gets a paneer pakoda and three cups of Wayanad tea].

What is the movie about? :: Mason Raymore (Stephen Kalyn) leads his basketball team to victory despite having visions of burning man, but after the celebrations, finds himself caught by the same man, and the teammates find him burning to death in a shower, to the surprise of everyone. A few months later, a new transfer student Chrys Willet (Dafne Keen) gets to use Mason’s old locker and finds a strange skull-shaped whistle. After a fight over the locker, Chrys is sent to detention by their teacher Mr. Craven (Nick Frost), along with her cousin Rel Taylor (Sky Yang), Mason’s old teammate Dean Jackson (Jhaleil Swaby), Dean’s girlfriend Grace Browning (Ali Skovbye) and the smart girl of the particular institution Ellie Gains (Sophie Nélisse) who also has diabetes. Mr. Craven who finds and confiscates the whistle after discovering that there is some Meso-American, probably Mayan antique value about it, just blows the whistle out of curiosity post the feeling that the writing is Mayan. Soon, as a chain smoker, he finds a strange apparition that somewhat looks like him which gets on to him and crushes his lungs.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Later, the detained students who meet at a pool also has Grace blow the whistle, whose sound causes everyone who listens to the same to be haunted by apparitions which are revealed to be themselves in a brutal, tormented form which looks very less like themselves. The next day, as they go back to the educational institution, they realize that Craven’s death is reported as extreme stage lung cancer, but they realize that there was no sign of any illness on him when they last met. Chrys and Ellie later meet Mason’s antique-collecting grandmother Ivy Raymore (Michelle Fairley) to return the whistle, but she gives it back to them while saying that it is a centuries old Aztec death whistle carved with the phrase “summon your death” instead of “summon the dead” which they had thought. She adds that anyone who hears the whistle becomes stalked by death and is soon killed by a manifestation of their own body just before dying. As they understand that Mason was to die by burning at some stage of his life and Craven by lung cancer caused by excessive smoking, Grace dies after rapidly aging into an old woman, and Dean is later killed in a manner resembling a motor accident. Now, can they stop it in time before anyone else dies?

The defence of Whistle :: When you take horror our of some Aztec whistle, there is the feeling that not much can be known about it, and therefore escape is to be near impossible. The early coming of death in the exact same way as destiny has planned is something innovative, and a twist on death coming to us in multiple brutal ways. The atmosphere created by the movie is really good, and we see some nice spooky thing coming out of nowhere every time, as being visually engaging seems to be a skill around here. The death sequences remain creative, with the addition of old-age apparition as much as the other brutal death modes. The mystery elements of the movie continue to stand strong, and we see the power of death not being a gentleman, thus not making Emily Dickinson with her poetry not that agreeable. There is no complication with the basic idea and with the characters and the quick pace, will be appealing to the new generation from the beginning itself. They mystery remains mysterious and sets tone for an even bigger sequel, if there is a chance.

The claws of flaw :: There are moments which make one feel that there are missed opportunities which could have easily been taken to elevate the movie. There was always the chance for more, with the scares as much as with the imagery. The supernatural elements taking the form of a future death could strike terror like no other. The appearance of apparitions could be scarier with some extra blood and gore, with more frequent appearance also possible. The middle part feels like a little deviating as the characters do make some strange decisions, yet it is not something we have not seen in other horror movies where the some characters die early, some others refuse to listen and often make the dumbest decisions; these have become a regular part of the genre, but this movie could have deviated from that formula as it had already taken some divergence with the premise and a myth that goes a different way. The idea also seems to move on and on, and the possible solution also seems a little too predictable.

The performers of the soul :: Dafne Keen who has been known for Logan, The New Mutants and Deadpool & Wolverine, has the lead in this particular horror flick, and we already know the kind of intensity she has displayed as a mutant and therefore would have no doubt about her possibilities in a horror movie. Her performance remains the highlight of the movie. Then there is Sophie Nélisse of 47 Meters Down: Uncaged which had its own sharks to bring the horror underwater – this time, she does an even better job. The two becomes a fine team together, and keeps on moving the story with defiance against death and its methods. Ali Skovbye is another lovely addition here, and becomes the person who set things in motion for friends, scoring more in a run against death than anyone else. Sky Yang plays another interesting character well, while Jhaleil Swaby comes next with some fine moments. Percy Hynes White plays a negative character with further shades of evil later revealed, and that surely works. Michelle Fairley nicely adds to the mystery of the movie, while one would feel that Nick Frost and Stephen Kalyn are missed too early.

How it finishes :: Bringing variety in horror has been one of the most difficult tasks of these times, and the movie has managed to do so, seemingly taking an extended inspiration out of something which is not that well-known or followed. After all, there is a lot of scope with different kinds of horror as part of separate myths and legends, like the franchise having Stree, Munjya, Thamma and others had in India, and remains relevant throughout the world, as just the vampire legends would do the job. This movie takes itself beyond the usual world of The Conjuring, Annabelle, The Nun, Sinister, Insidious, Evil Dead and similar flicks to create innovative horror from an idea from the past. The full effectiveness of the same might not be there to be taken at all times, but this one remains something to be remembered for going through that divergent route, and make the whole thing work well enough. Well, we never have enough of horror in a world of chaos which can have nothing more than hopelessness and death – if death comes in many forms beyond Final Destination, we also take them into our hearts and hope for the human suffering to end.

Release date: 13th February 2026
Running time: 100 minutes
Directed by: Corin Hardy
Starring: Dafne Keen, Sophie Nélisse, Sky Yang, Jhaleil Swaby, Ali Skovbye, Percy Hynes White, Michelle Fairley, Nick Frost, Stephen Kalyn, Conrad Coates, Mikayla Kong, Lanette Ware, Christine Sahely, Dina Pino, Izaak Smith, Vicki Kim

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Sky Force

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Vampire Owl: Actually, this is the first time I am hearing about this particular movie.

Vampire Bat: It is the same for me, and I am rather surprised.

Vampire Owl: Yes, we do not miss such movies too easily.

Vampire Bat: So many similar movies used to come to our lands, but not anymore.

Vampire Owl: I guess that the travel problem was the one thing which made it difficult.

Vampire Bat: Well, we no longer go to the theatres that much these days.

Vampire Owl: We are just not feeling the need anymore.

Vampire Bat: But once upon a time, we had stormed the theatres in a flash.

Vampire Owl: We had watched more than hundred movies in theatre in a year, racing towards infinity.

Vampire Bat: Well, those days are gone and we are now people of the OTT with the mobile recharge offers assuring of the same.

[Gets some banana chips and three cups of Nilgiri tea].

What is the movie about? :: In the year 1965, India had given a decisive blow to Pakistan which altered the course of war despite the early Pakistani advancement and the related complications in between. The world had thought that the wars between the two nations have been stopped for at least a few decades. But later in 1971, the Pakistan Air Force launches a sudden attack on an Indian airbase as India was supporting Bangladesh in their Liberation War against the Pakistani forces along with the seemingly everlasting Kashmir issue. Despite the surprise attacks having some early advantage, Indian forces are able to neutralize the threat and capture Pakistani Squadron leader Ahmed Hussain (Sharad Kelkar). The war continues in Bangladesh with the liberation army of East Pakistan struggling hard for their independence. While a talk between him and Wing Commander Kumar Om Ahuja (Akshay Kumar) brings back the memories of 1965 India-Pakistan War involving war hero Squadron Leader T Krishna Vijaya (Veer Pahariya).

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Going back to that time period in history, Ahuja and his teammates, including Vijaya a.k.a Tabby, are training to fly for the Tiger Squadron at the Adampur Airbase of Indian Airforce. Vijaya is someone who keeps breaking the protocols while trying to achieve the impossible, and remains a highly skilled and valued pilot in the team. He does the best in most of the training sessions, making an impact like nobody else has done before. He shares a close bond with Ahuja, as he considers him like his father who passed away as he has been his mentor for a long time, leading to others feeling that there is a favoritism involved. Ahuja sees his late brother who had passed away, someone who was also a skilled pilot, in Vijaya and his actions. Vijaya’s Geeta Vijaya (Sara Ali Khan) is pregnant with their first child and is scared that there could be a war soon, and her husband would have to leave very soon. Ahuja’s wife Preeti Ahuja (Nimrat Kaur) gives her confidence from her own experiences.

And what more is to follow here in a world which awaits a war of long reaching hostility? :: Soon, they get the news that Pakistan had shot down four Indian military aircrafts, and war might be coming soon, and despite seeing movements on the border with arms and ammunitions set at the area, India decides not to strike before Pakistan chooses to do anything more. But then the attack comes to the Indian airbases and a number of flights of Adampur are destroyed and some of the pilots also killed in the process. Now, the question remains if Indian fighter planes stand a chance against the advanced American fighters gifted to Pakistan as the commander Air Commodore David Lawrence (Manish Choudhary) awaits orders from the top, which he does not seem to get. When they finally get the same, they realize that their targets might not be the ones which have the best foreign fighter planes of Pakistan, and it might be located further into the territory. If the team can get to these planes and destroy them, it might be as part of a suicide mission. Now, the question remains if they can really manage to do that without disobeying some of the direct orders from the top and while facing advanced fighter jets.

The defence of Sky Force :: The movie works as a fitting tribute to the nation’s heroes, and at the same time, works with its action and drama really well. The patriotism never really gets over the line and we do not the situation overdone to create a feeling of hate. Akshay Kumar manages to make another patriotic movie work, and this time, the realistic feeling to his character has us with further appreciation. He had provided a certain variety in the same through Airlift as well as Baby and Bell Bottom focusing not on the big battles but what lied beneath the same, and this one goes directly to war, and he manages to make this keep a certain level with the skill of a veteran whom we have loved since the Khiladi series taking it to the next stage. Veer Pahariya, whom most of us have not seen before and is introduced to Bollywood this movie, comes up with a fine work too. His strong first introduction is something that we will remember for long. Among the ladies, Nimrat Kaur has a strong presence while Sara Ali Khan remains okay. The supporting cast does manage to do the job well.

Positives and negatives :: The movie might still feel to be similar to some other movies in the past which have dealt with similar topics, and the Western influence cannot be denied either. Bollywood has always found it difficult to innovate too much, and that struggle can be seen here too. But it has that punch when dealing with a forgotten hero and the patriotism is at the right place, having no excessive melodrama which often threatens to complicate things. The dogfights and aircraft-related scenes are really good with the movie as they maintain the classic strength of the sequences while never overdoing the same – the visuals remain in quality and the sound effects and background music are nicely blended well. The predictability is still there and not all aspects of war and that part of history are shown. If you are looking for too much of a spectacle with style, you might not have it, as such true Bollywood movies would have some overrated actress; compared to another similar movie, I am glad that this one did not have Deepika Padukone or those usual names, for the focus would be shifted if someone like her is added, for the direct approach of this movie needs no glamour and calls for no bikini or swimsuit show.

How it finishes :: Sky Force is that kind of a movie which works on more than one level, even though not all levels get the same impact as intended. There is a lot of quality here, and to that, everyone would agree, and when patriotism and bravery get the right dose, we are going to appreciate the same every time. It easily becomes a tribute to the past which had some of the greatest heroes of the nation who shall not be forgotten. After all, military dramas with strong emotional core and real-life characters providing inspiration with patriotism are the kind that we cannot ignore. If you are looking for that kind of military movies which turn into stylish action films with Deepika Padukone in a swim suit, this is surely not the movie for you. For this one as a tribute with inspiration from real-life characters shall have none of it. There is no wonder about the fact that this did not do that well at the box-office; people look for style over class, and it is what they opt for all the time. It is also the reason for success of too many romantic movies, for they are easy to create in Bollywood with two or more dumb people falling in love. On the other side, we have movies like this which deserves our appreciation for getting so many things right.

Release date: 24th January 2025
Running time:125 minutes
Directed by: Sandeep Kewlani, Abhishek Anil Kapur
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya, Sara Ali Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Sharad Kelkar, Mohit Chauhan, Manish Chaudhari, Varun Badola, Soham Majumdar, Rajat Kaul, Ritik Ghanshani, Abhinav Bhattacharjee, Virendra Singh Patyal

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✠ The Vampire Bat.

Prathichaya

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Vampire Owl: We have had some high expectation about this movie.

Vampire Bat: We never really had high expectations from political thrillers.

Vampire Owl: I am not sure about calling this one under that label though.

Vampire Bat: Well, labels are part of life and some divisions are necessary.

Vampire Owl: Yes, even vampires use different types of labels towards infinity.

Vampire Bat: Labels are forever, even after death and burial.

Vampire Owl: Everyone knows that death is only the beginning.

Vampire Bat: Only the humans do not realize the same caught in the waves of chaos.

Vampire Owl: Maybe they need to make a call from the dead to the living.

Vampire Bat: There are no connections to the living’s identity in the realms past death.

[Gets a chilli paneer dosa and three cups of Darjeeling tea].

What is the movie about? :: K N Varghese (Balachandra Menon) serves as the Chief Minister of Kerala, and has been proving his governing skills which has taken him to new heights, even rising above all those tough allegations raised against him by the opposition. His elder son Tobin Varghese (Nishanth Sagar) is a Member of Parliament, a position asserted by Varghese’s influence, and is married to Rani Tobin (Vijitha Vijayakumar) who is hoping that her husband would one day become a minister. His younger son John Varghese (Nivin Pauly) is a tech entrepreneur who keeps away from politics and is married to Rosa John (Neethu Krishna) with whom he was involved in left-wing politics during college days. Varghese wished to have John involved in his politics, but he had remained elusive, as he had fallen in love with communist leader N P Jayadevan’s (Saikumar) daughter, who became his wife and had decided to not let any more politics in their lives. Varghese, despite his busy life as Chief Minister, has remained a loving husband to Annamma Varghese (Sabitha Anand) and spent time with his children.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Varghese has his new struggles as the minister, as people within his party and coalition also have problems with his method of working, especially with his closeness to common people and the quick decision-making without involving other elected members or even veterans or ministers. A case of approving bars and closing them according to situation also angers the coalition members, especially who are in charge of particular departments. But things change when a woman named Nisha Chandrakumar (Ann Augustine) comes up with an interview to a reporter Elizabeth Jacob (Aneena Mariya), which is telecasted on the television channel owned by the business tycoon Ravi Madhavan (Sharaf U Dheen). This brings a new scandal to the scene, as Nisha claims that she was called to the minister’s home, and was sexually exploited in his room when she visited him for a favour when nobody else was present at her home.

And what more follows here as a crisis unfolds in a world of chaos and distrust? :: Nisha had also recorded herself entering the house and the video was provided as a evidence, which quickly means trouble as he had already told the media that she did not come to his house at all. This brings an organized attack against Varghese, and the leftist groups arrange huge rallies to attack him, even injuring him despite being stopped by the police. Tobin finds himself in trouble as he is also considered to be a silent partner in all deeds of Varghese. No longer at peace with himself, Varghese has a heart attack and is pronounced death on the very next morning. John who was supposed to reach St. Pietersburg for a new project cancels his trip and returns. Tobin is considered to be the forerunner for the next Chief Minister of Kerala, but the senior members of the party and coalition seem to disagree. At the same time, John gets in the act to save his father’s name, but can he really do that as political games continue in a world without righteousness? There will be more political secrets and conspiracies involving political rivals – is he good enough to go beyond?

The defence of Prathichaya :: Nivin Pauly as John Varghese leads the way, and holds the movie strong, while Balachandra Menon in a solid role, could nicely manage a character that needed quite some effort. Sharaf U Dheen’s antagonist, Harisree Ashokan’s serious manipulator also works. Nishant Sagar comes up with another underrated performance and Vishnu Agasthya has something more than that direct villainy in RDX. Neethu Krishna’s debut is well-received while other female characters by Megha Thomas, Aneena Mariya, Vijitha Vijayakumar and Sabitha Anand remains effective. With some good performances, the movie shows media manipulation, corporate influence and fake image-building which have been part of politics these days instead of the genuine desire to serve people. The father-son emotional mode remains effective throughout the run. This also remains a visually good movie with nice background score. There are some twists in between related to the proceedings. We feel that there are some reflections of the politics of Kerala in the past.

The claws of flaw :: People might still have their expectations too high after Sarvam Maya, even though Baby Girl had attracted less attention in comparison. There is also a lot of predictability associated with this movie, and people might think that the ending is just usual, quick and too easy to expect from this kind of a film. One can also feel that there are too many cliched dialogues which comes in here and there. The movie is a bit too long, and some of these extended dialogues add to slowing down the overall pace. Even with the new technological ideas added here, the movie can feel like belonging to a past at times, that too with new political situations already seen and explored in real life. There were many opportunities to take it out of that expected corporate level extension to the usual, but the movie never takes them, as it seems to be trying to make the protagonist as too smart a person who can go through all of these with ease and come up with flying colours. Yet, being a little too dramatic remains a weak point – after all, the hero is to focus on the family audience more these days, I guess.

How it finishes :: This is the movie which had some hype associated with it, but never really rising that much when we look at the expectation. Now, available in Jio Hotstar in multiple languages, the movie might get better attention as there is a certain amount of tidiness associated with it, never really going out into that clueless chaos. As a clean movie, a political thriller for the families asserted by its cast, there is not more than what meets the eye, but what is suitable for all eyes. As an emotionally strong one, it tries to bank on the family audience and therefore forgets the rest of the audience, which might have led to its downfall as this genre is not that of everyone from home. Maybe, next Nivin Pauly would go back directly to the family audience with their own kind of genre rather than any other. This is still the best movie from B Unnikrishnan in some time, and it does not overdo what seems to go out of control and twisting out of the usual. One can only say that the political thriller forces could come again with more divergence, for Kerala surely has scope for a lot of the same.

Release date: 26th March 2026
Running time: 162 minutes
Directed by: B Unnikrishnan
Starring: Nivin Pauly, Balachandra Menon, Sharaf U Dheen, Harisree Ashokan, Sabitha Anand, Neethu Krishna, Ann Augustine, Saikumar, Maniyanpilla Raju, Chirag Jani, Nishanth Sagar, Vishnu Agasthya, Vijitha Vijayakumar, Megha Thomas, Nandini Gopalakrishnan, Baby Dhwani, Vyshakh, Aneena, Baby Fyza

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✠ The Vampire Bat.

Sambhavam

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Vampire Owl: I have heard a lot of positive about this movie on the way back from silent hill.

Vampire Bat: This feels like a very divergent movie in comparison to others.

Vampire Owl: Yes, one of its kind, as what we understand from the opinions.

Vampire Bat: There seems to be something mysterious about this movie too.

Vampire Owl: I can feel the supernatural and science fiction at the same time.

Vampire Bat: I wonder if they will need science if the supernatural already works.

Vampire Owl: This would be one of its kind in Malayalam, I guess.

Vampire Bat: Every kind of a movie needs to begin somewhere.

Vampire Owl: So, the experimentation has started now.

Vampire Bat: And it seems like it is going the right way this time.

[Gets a red velvet cake and three cups of Ceylon tea].

What is the movie about? :: Anand (Askar Ali) is a civil police officer who had go through his early life as an orphan due to his father’s disappearance during his childhood. Many years later, he is taking charge in an area which is located close to the forest, and it is a punishment transfer to the middle of nowhere as he fell asleep on duty and did not salute a senior police officer. As he takes charge, his wife Neethu (Neethu Krishna) is pregnant, but she assures him that he can go without second thoughts as the full family is around there for her help and support. There he meets the other policemen in the station, the senior officer Ashokan (Assim Jamal) and the other officers Reji (Vineeth Kumar) and Rajamani (Senthil Krishna). Reji is an angry middle-aged man who gets upset about even small things during his duty, while Ashokan who only has a few years to retirement shows the best of maturity, with Rajamani living through some happy moments in his police life. The situation seems to be peaceful, and there seems to be no feeling of danger or crisis anywhere near the forest and village area.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: The joining day seems to be an uneventful one, and as Anand comes to know that Neethu had given birth to a girl child, Ashokan asks him to go home and come back later as there is nothing much to do. Everything seems to go in a usual manner until they realize that Reji has caused a problem with a group of Tamil youth from the other side of border. This is followed by them finding an injured police officer on the way, whom they take to the hospital. From the walkie-talkie used by the officer, they find out that there is another police officer who is injured and lost in the forest. With these calls from the same person keeping on asking for help, they decide to search for the missing man. They make a call to the police station on the other side of the state, but the people on the other side denies having anyone in the forests at the same time. Despite Reji not being in favour of it, they decide to go into the forest and quickly have a look. As they step in and go deep into wilderness, there seems to be too many things that they do not understand. Who all can escape from these complications?

The defence of Sambhavam Adhyayam Onnu :: Despite dealing with a difficult topic, the makers of the movie seem to have a fine idea about what it needs to achieve, and therefore the whole thing is provided to the audience without much of a complication. From the beginning itself, we are given the idea that there is something coming, and danger is always around the corner with something strange awaiting to drop in. The time-bending elements are always ready to add more too. The twists are nicely worked with, and the suspense is well-maintained and unleashed at the right moment. They mystery makes us think early enough and there is more to it than what meets the eye, revealed with enough being held for the big revelation later. The setting of forest has been used to the advantage, and the choice of statue and backstory works well to add to the overall mood. Cinematography, background score and editing, all contribute well to the overall quality of the movie. With a bigger budget, one can only wonder what can be made if there is a second movie in this particular series.

Positives and negatives :: Despite how well this has been presented, there will always be some people who do not understand the whole thing, and will remain confused forever. The emotional depth, despite being strong with the father-son bond, losses its power with the repeated idea of seeing the newborn child. There might be similarities with other movies felt at times, but with the setting and background, this serves right in its own way. There is a little bit of stretching as the same thing is repeated in the name of showing different timelines, and incidents happening multiple times, often in the same way or with differences keep us wondering. For those who do not like the basic idea, this will hurt them more. The absence of the big names seems to have hurt the movie, and some more hype during its release would have helped to make this a big name in the theatres too – the experience is something which would work really nice for the big screen with a special feeling that never ceases to leave us. Still, you see how well this is presented, and can always have some time to enjoy the same.

The performers of the soul :: Known the best for Kamuki, Askar Ali comes up with an interesting performance here in a movie which requires some work from the cast due to its shift between timelines and the weird nature of the proceedings would make it even more difficult. The emotional side of the movie is mostly associated with him more than anyone else. Assim Jamal plays a fine police officer, someone who seems to be more responsible than others, and is committed to his duty with a humane touch. From the first introduction itself, we feel that he is indeed a likable character, and maybe he deserved a full run in the movie. Vineeth Kumar plays a serious police character, but we do not see much of him and the character is easily lost in the proceedings as we do not get a character development around there. Senthil Krishna’s small role remains notable, and keeps us feeling that there would be more to him, but he does not get that much of a screen-time to work with. Sidharth Bharathan’s small role should get developed further in the next possible sequel, as it becomes very relevant and well-played with a touch of mystery. As the only relevant female character, Neethu Krishna manages a fine job with the small screen-time.

How it finishes :: Sambhavam Adhyayam Onnu comes up with an idea which is not thought about in Malayalam cinema, and this lack of thought might be more about how people would take it rather than that botheration about the budget. The combination of loops with local myths and legends works really well around here, as the cinematic experience becomes something splendid as much as new, with everything working so well, and even leaves scope for something more to come in a possible sequel – there has been some good appreciation from the audience for this movie, even though early reaction was not much; another movie should be coming around. If you enjoy time-loop mysteries, this one is worth watching for its ambition, atmosphere and that unusual premise which is added to our world in a believable manner. The combination of multiple ideas to a believable mode works really well. This is certainly a step forward for Malayalam cinema and we need to appreciate the same, for Thamma–Munjya–Stree-like folklore developement should happen more.

Release date: 6th March 2026
Running time: 129 minutes
Directed by: Jithu Satheesan Mangalathu
Starring: Askar Ali, Vineeth Kumar, Assim Jamal, Sidharth Bharatan, Senthil Krishna

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✠ The Vampire Bat.

Jolly LLB 3

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Vampire Owl: I had once tried to get a law degree from the Vampire Elder University.

Vampire Bat: I never heard about such an episode about you.

Vampire Owl: It was kept highly confidential for everyone’s interest.

Vampire Bat: What can happen if people know about your skills?

Vampire Owl: I will be given more work at the castle.

Vampire Bat: I thought you liked working at the Dracula Castle.

Vampire Owl: I always want some spare time, and this secret will be helpful for me.

Vampire Bat: Even now, you do not really spend that much time at work.

Vampire Owl: Nonsense. I am always working for the upliftment of vampire community, not for its fall.

Vampire Bat: You should know that there are special working committees for the same purpose. We are together in this one with Uncle Dracula.

[Gets a tea cake and three cups of orange tea].

What is the movie about? :: Rajaram Solanki (Robin Das), an elderly farmer from Bikaner in Rajasthan losses his land to a local builder and influential man Raghunath Bhardwaj (Sushil Pandey), as latter created fake documents to support his cause, and the same is accepted in the local court. His daughter-in-law Varsha Solanki (Sarah Hashmi) tries her best, but as the traditional local court of their village do not consider a widow woman’s words to be of any significance, she has no chance to make a difference and bring some hope to the situation either. This leads to Rajaram, who is also a poet, to write a final poem, and commit suicide by jumping into a river with stones tied to his legs, much to the dismay of Varsha who witnesses their family land being taken away by fraud by builders supported by politicians and powerful men from cities. But she realizes that this is not the case of only one farmer committing suicide, as protesting farmers from Parsaul, Uttar Pradesh also seems to be face the same trouble, with more builders and governments themselves trying to acquire more land for construction.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: A few years later, Delhi is seeing two Jollys in the same court – Jagdish Tyagi (Arshad Warsi) from Meerut and Jagdishwar Mishra (Akshay Kumar) from Kanpur are both practicing as advocates in the same city. Their identical nicknames are the reason for constant friction and professional rivalry due to clients approaching the wrong Jolly, and each of them trying to get more cases at the expense of the other. One day, when an NGO representing forty protesting farmers from Parsaul approaches Jagdish, he smartly redirects them to Jagdishwar, believing the case to be a burden without enough payment. But former’s wife Sandhya (Amrita Rao), an activist, later convinces him to take up the case for Janki, Rajaram’s widow, Janki Rajaram Solanki (Seema Biswas) without taking any money. Jagdishwar keeps feeling that he has the advantage compared to his rival with same nickname, but Pushpa Mishra (Huma Qureshi), Jagdishwar’s wife, has no value for him though, as he makes no money in comparison to what she would make if she sells anything from her boutique.

And what more would happen here as something more is to happen in the court? :: When a high-paying case which comes to Jagdish goes to Jagdishwar just because of the nickname, the fight becomes more serious, and they are even forced to come to a settlement in the presence of other lawyers in the nearby offices. The new problem of the farmers is centered on industrialist Haribhai Khaitan’s (Gajraj Rao) “Bikaner to Boston” project, which is a massive infrastructure plan supported by MLA Iqbal Singh Shekhawat (Raman Atre) and the district magistrate Avik Sengupta (Kharaj Mukherjee). After a number of twists, Jagdishwar is selected to represent the corporation against Jagdish. The case is presided over by Justice Sunder Lal Tripathi (Saurabh Shukla), who does not really want the Jollys in his courtroom again. Jagdishwar nicely wins a dismissal of Janki’s complaint much to the dismay of his rival and the farmers. But this would not be beginning or the end of the farmer struggles, as more conspiracies and acts of evil are to be unveiled. Where would the two Jollys stand related to the same?

The defence of Jolly LLB 3 :: The movie deals with a relevant topic of concern which would remain as something of significance as long as the world exists, and as it takes the side of farmers against the corporate evil with sincerity and seriousness without losing humour, there is that feeling of making it appealing to everyone. Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi and Saurabh Shukla lead the proceedings really well, while among the women, Amrita Rao makes the best impact, as she has always done while being underrated. The emotional side is mostly effective, and the revelations are indeed nice. There are some small little twists that happen around here, and the character development surely works well. It is that clean family entertainer that most people would love to have around among those general Bollywood troubles. This ends in such a way that applause is gained, and the two actors nicely getting into their acts shall remain a joy to watch as the experience shows in bringing the humour out of nowhere and with the shift of moods. Some dialogues will remain in our minds for the relevance in the present world rather than anything else.

The claws of flaw :: As the third movie of a series of fine flicks, this one does not raise its level, and it is a disappointment, considering what kind of content they actually have. There is a certain amount of lack of interest which also seems to make its way here and there as the movie progresses, sometimes leading to a certain lag. There are moments when it gets too preachy instead of letting things unfold. Some of the humour will also be applicable only to the usual Bollywood or North Indian audience, and it has not been a problem of just one movie, as keep staring at the movies that surround this one. The comic side of Bollywood has rarely been at its best in the last few years, unless it is copying from Malayalam movies. As the third movie, and with the characters of two successful earlier movies, this could have surely achieved more. There are so many moments when we feel that the whole thing could be made more interesting, but there seems to be the need to align with the safe side with this one. Well, you know that there is always the need to satisfy too many kinds of people as far as Bollywood is concerned, as nobody knows what offends whom.

How it finishes :: The way in which the movie takes on social issues with some humour, but still maintains the seriousness of the situation deserves our attention. The humour does not appeal to most of the audience, but stays strong overall. There were many paths which the movie could have taken to make this even better, but we would find this one effective enough in this way. It is still not as thought-provoking and humorous as the earlier movies, seemingly due to the need to balance two people of the same name coming from their own previous movies. The mostly engaging ride also ends well enough, even though it can be seen that sometimes the punches seem to be loaded for the sake of being there. The attempt to appeal to everyone is not that much there, but we adjust with that. The core issue of the movie still remains something to think about, and if that much of thought is achieved in a world of chaos and hopelessness for the common man, it is an achievement for the movie indeed.

Release date: 19th September 2025
Running time: 157 minutes
Directed by: Subhash Kapoor
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi, Saurabh Shukla, Amrita Rao, Huma Qureshi, Gajraj Rao, Seema Biswas

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@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Companion

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Vampire Owl: Vampires have always looked for eternal companions for togetherness.

Vampire Bat: These people are talking about companion robots.

Vampire Owl: Haven’t we developed a vampire robot yet?

Vampire Bat: We do not need any more scientific development now.

Vampire Owl: I am sure that Dr. Frankenstein would have other ideas.

Vampire Bat: Mr. Frankenstein and his ideas are surely not real science.

Vampire Owl: They are science, especially after inventing that time machine by the doctor.

Vampire Bat: He just declared that he travelled through time.

Vampire Owl: Yes, and it is truth, as he has proven with records.

Vampire Bat: He has always created all the fake records by himself.

[Gets a choco-marble cake and three cups of Chinese tea].

What is the movie about? :: Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid) travels to a mansion on the edge of civilization, a huge property around a lake owned by a billionaire named Sergey (Rupert Friend), who is the boyfriend of his Josh’s best friend Kat (Megan Suri) – Kat still calls herself Sergey’s property, keep or mistress due to the nature of Sergey, yet they remain open to welcoming friends as Kat maintains that influence on the Russian billionaire. They also invite two other friends Eli (Harvey Guillen) and his partner Patrick (Lukas Gage). The group seems to spend some happy moments in the mansion at night, and everyone seems to get along with each other well. But on the very next day, Sergey attempts to sexually assault Iris at the lakeside, and Iris ends up killing him in self-defense. She returns to the house in panic, attempting to explain what happened, but Josh tells the blood-covered Iris to go to sleep, and she losses her consciousness, waking up only to find herself strongly tied up to a chair.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Josh tells her that she is a companion robot that he is renting from a robotics company known as Empathix. He adds that her emotions and intelligence are controlled by an app on his phone, and the love and sexual desire are also under his control. He adds that the memory of them meeting for the first time is a lie, coming out of a pre-loaded idea chosen from many options, and it is her programming that makes her fall in love with him, and the past has all been part of that programme. He adds that now he has to take her back to the company, and maybe dismantle her there, but she does not believe her. He makes her believe by making her speak in the language he wishes to, and also shows that there are many other customizable options. As he goes for one final talk with Kat, Iris manages to escape though, and she also takes her phone to have full control over herself, increasing her intelligence and changing other options as the friends start to look for her.

The defence of Companion :: The movie can boast of a fine cast led by Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid, along with Megan Suri’s perfect contribution as she makes that one the most interesting human character around. The film nicely explores the themes of control, need for freedom and toxic relationships through an entertaining sci-fi situation which is thrilling no because of the scientific situation, but the human predicament. The surprises of the movie are good, and even without those big twists, manage to keep us interested. The multiple elements of horror, thriller dark comedy and sci-fi nicely come together effectively while also leaving a few social messages about people, relationships, rights and freedom. The one and half hour length is supportive of the movie’s cause as it goes through the whole thing perfectly during that time period, never too much or less. There is no loss of strength here as we understand that we are quickly getting to a twisted situation, and the mood would remain somewhat similar throughout its run.

The claws of flaw :: The idea of artificial intelligence with a conscience, emotions and physical relationships may feel familiar to viewers with movies like Wifelike and Ex Machina which did the same better – the exploration of the ideas were so much better with an emotional side there, and the latter was indeed that sci-fi classic which deserved all the appreciation in the world. Those two movies were rather courageous with the depictions, but the movie here seems to keep to the safe zone, and at times, even comes up with just the blame game for all characters except the robotic main character. The science fiction mode is also on a struggle at times, as there is no clear focus on the robot either, and its making and structure, as well as the parent company are restricted to a few dialogues. One cannot say that the idea is original, and there is no real further development on the same available data. Some of the character decisions would seem illogical or seem to exist only to create more situations of interest, and the final hesitation of the robotic character to shoot is just one of them. This often feels like an opportunity for glory missed out.

The performers of the soul :: Sophie Thatcher delivers a fine performance, and the way in which she makes even the usual situations remarkable needs a mention. The final moments have her making an even bigger impression. Jack Quaid can also be considered highly effective in the darker role, and sometimes raise the level so much above what we expect according to the proceedings. This is one antagonist who brings the unexpected. Then, who strikes the most playing the side characters is Megan Suri, who is fantastic as the only woman character with a villainous side – among the characters, she seems like the most determined, and someone with a clear vision, and the same is depicted perfectly by her. For a slasher horror movie with supernatural or psycho killers, she would make a perfect choice – there is something about her that suits the genre. Lukas Gage’s work also remains notable, while Harvey Guillén does fine. Rupert Friend as Sergey has his moments despite being there for only a short amount of time. Jaboukie Young-White, Matthew J McCarthy and Marc Menchaca are there in smaller, but relevant roles.

How it finishes :: Companion becomes interesting because it successfully combines different genres with social commentary without being preachy or slow, and the cast nicely supports the same by adapting to the situations. The strongest points here are the performances, dark humour and interesting surprises, while it never really gets out of the familiar themes and the predictable side that comes even in the end. This will never be one of those movies which comes up with innovation in the topic, as it chooses the safe side, but the entertaining side is safe around here. It seems to know what kind of movie it needs to be, and with this knowledge, touches the necessary elements which need to keep the world interesting. The movie is currently available in Jio Hotstar, but you should remember that this idea can be seen in a few other movies which did the same better earlier. So, choose wisely, and go through the idea. Yet, remember that this is the newest version of the same, and therefore has made some nice changes too.

Release date: 31st January 2025
Running time: 97 minutes
Directed by: Drew Hancock
Starring: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend

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✠ The Vampire Bat.

Pretty Lethal

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Vampire Owl: There is nothing more lethal than vampires, not even werewolves who crawl in.

Vampire Bat: These people are referring to ballerinas in a fight.

Vampire Owl: I have always felt that vampires need ballerinas around for positive influence.

Vampire Bat: Don’t we fight enough in other forms?

Vampire Owl: We should never be that short of options in a world of chaos.

Vampire Bat: At least this is on Amazon Prime Video for reference.

Vampire Owl: I think that I am going to learn dancing outside too.

Vampire Bat: You remember the dancing fight of Jumanji too?

Vampire Owl: Yes, that has inspired me to develop my fighting steps. I am issuing a red notice.

Vampire Bat: You do not need to learn any more fighting as there no wars or encounters in our realm right now.

[Gets a parippu vada and three cups of Munnar tea].

What is the movie about? :: An American ballet troupe is honoured to be part of a prestigious international ballet competition in Budapest. This invited team consists of their leading dancer Bones (Maddie Ziegler), a rich and selfish Princess (Lana Condor), very religious and prude Grace (Avantika Vandanapu), kind-hearted and helpful Zoe (Iris Apatow) and her dumb and mute sister Chloe (Millicent Simmonds), and their proud and highly supportive teacher, Thorna (Lydia Leonard). The group is not that fond of each other, but gets together with their dancing routine really well. A series of confusion in their travel arrangements and also at the airport ends them in a bus which also gets broken down near a small town, from where transportation seems to be difficult to get in a short notice. They move into the town, hoping for a place to stay the night until the bus is repaired or some alternate mode of transportation is arranged by the authorities. A man from the town invites them to the Teremok Inn which served as a fine hotel and restaurant.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: The place is under the control of Devora (Uma Thurman), a former ballerina who also runs a small crime family. While taking Chloe to the toilet, Thorna sees Devora brutally torturing a man in her office, and feels that the situation is not safe for the girls. She tries to call all the girls so that they can leave, but Pasha (Tamás Szabó Sipos), who is the son of another crime lord who collects money from the area, shoots her on the head as she pushes him away when he tries to make sexual advances to her. When Princess threatens to call the police, Devora takes the corpse away and has the girls locked in her basement. She also burns their passports and cellphones, as she feels that nobody knows that the girls are in the inn or even this particular town. Bones tries to run away, but is knocked out and dragged downstairs by her legs. At the same time, Chloe who was in the toilet, unaware of the situation, continues to be friendly with the people around her, and even gets the offer of a tattoo.

And what more can happen as there seems to be something more terrifying coming up? :: While Chloe becomes friends with Devora’s son Artyom (Krisztián Csákvári) over the tattoo for which she waits in the room, an unconscious Bones is tied up. Devora’s right-hand man Osip (Miklós Béres) drugs and tries to rape Grace, only to find himself killed by the girls, as Bones escapes from her bondage. Princess (Lana Condor) tries to escape all by herself, but as she finds their teacher being chopped into pieces by a man known by the name Doktor (Gábor Nagypál), returns to them, as they go searching for Chloe. As the girls find themselves surrounded by Devora’s henchmen, they come up with dance moves with razors blades stuck in their shoes and taped to their fingertips, doing well enough to mortally wound the henchmen, surprising everyone in the building. Devora asks for Pasha’s father, the dreaded crime lord Lothar (Michael Culkin) to come there by himself before any deal could be made, and reminds Doktor to be prepared to deal with corpses of ballerina girls. Can the girls do well enough to survive as further evil is unleashed on them?

The defence of Pretty Lethal :: This is one movie which quickly gets into action, and the whole 10o minutes of run-time is used well to create maximum impact. The use of dance training as a lethal weapon works really well here, and each actress is so graceful in their movements. When this dance choreography meets some violent action, we have the feeling of class all around. There is also a lot of energy and style related to the proceedings. Even though everyone has similar significance here, Maddie Ziegler as Bones remains the one who remains closes to a protagonist as a leader-kind figure, and comes up with a splendid performance with a lot of energy that seems to come from within, making her a perfect action star. Avantika Vandanapu plays the next notable role, and the Tarot-star blends in incredibly well. Millicent Simmonds of A Quiet Place fame makes this one count, while Iris Apatow and Lana Condor also join well. Uma Thurman has a strong presence as the revenge-seeking antagonist who moves on between different shades while Lydia Leonard’s character is missed too soon.

Positives and negatives :: The movie could have used better promotions, as most of us came to know about this one by accident while looking at Amazon Prime Video for new movies. There are also those usual cliches that run through the movie, even though sometimes, it just adds to the overall charm of the flick within the genre. The characters are all interesting even though there is not that much development related to it due to the focus on action – we surely would not mind the same. The movie still maintains some good humour, and that comes out of nowhere to keep us more interested in the proceedings. The viewers can think that this is too much away from being realistic, but when we think about very old superstars beating up fifty people at a time, this is not that much, and the dance steps keep us believing in the world. The choice of setting, and the one particular building and its inside makes another world working like a dream. As the progress is even, there is nothing much lost around here.

How it finishes :: Pretty Lethal is a fun ride which never really stops being entertaining throughout its run; there are no ups and downs as this feels like one complete entertainer of its genre with some fine action and beautiful visuals supported by the actors who shows their skills in this environment really well. Being an entertaining action-thriller with some inventive ballet-based combat would never be easy, but with some energetic performances, this one score very well. If you are looking for some stylish action and don’t mind the movie taking a few things for granted, there is a big entertainer with some moments to remember. After all, we are always looking for someone who thinks differently and creates a movie out of it. This is surely one of them, and it has ballerina getting the central focus, and making an impression like never before – maybe that title could have been used here in plural, but when we look closely, we have that fine weekend entertainer which can be watched with a lot of fun expectation.

Release date: 25th March 2026 (Amazon Prime Video)
Running time: 100 minutes
Directed by: Vicky Jewson
Starring: Iris Apatow, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Avantika Vandanapu, Maddie Ziegler, Uma Thurman

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@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Ballerina

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Vampire Owl: So, we are going to have a dancing assassin now?

Vampire Bat: John Wick universe surely needed an extra addition.

Vampire Owl: Even Dr. Frankenstein’s universe demands many upgrades.

Vampire Bat: Mr. Frankenstein has had enough extra additions.

Vampire Owl: So, are we going to have a female John Wick here?

Vampire Bat: It would not be exactly the same, as no two assassins are the same.

Vampire Owl: Yes, I know that Hitman is surely not the same.

Vampire Bat: Different assassins will be around, even in the same universe.

Vampire Owl: At least nobody killed Ballerina’s dog, I hope.

Vampire Bat: Well, I am sure that she has lost much more than a dog.

[Gets an uzhunnu vada and three cups of Vagamon tea].

What is the movie about? :: Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) was taken away from a dangerous crime syndicate by her father, who as well as her mother were killed by the same group. Orphaned at a young age, New York Continental hotel manager Winston Scott (Ian McShane) had taken Eve to the Ruska Roma, an assassin’s society under the cover of performance dancers, where she had met their Director (Anjelica Huston) and decided to be part of the same – she had taken the new girl under her wing as she finds anger and fire in her, which could be put to the best use. She goes through a tough training as an assassin as much as in the form of a ballerina, and meets John Wick (Keanu Reeves) with whom she has a talk about escaping from the cycle and seek her revenge. Eve fights hard and completes her training by killing a former Ruska Roma member and earns the title of “Kikimora”. On her first mission, she successfully protects the girl whom she is assigned with, even after being beaten up and thrown to each corner of a pub.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: As she moves higher in the ranks, turning her weaknesses in fights to her advantage, and completing missions, she ends up killing a man who had the same mark on his hand as the killer of her father. Despite asking too many questions, she is forbidden from pursuing them due to a longstanding peace treaty which has remained in place to avoid bloodshed. But Eve is not happy at all, and disobeys the Director to visit the New York Continental to meet Winston, and she understands that this particular group she is searching is more uncivilized and kill not just for business, but for sport. Winston also adds that a man from this group Daniel Pine (Norman Reedus) is staying at the Prague branch of Continental with a huge bounty on his life. Eve travels all the way to Prague only to find out that there are too many people waiting for Daniel to come out, and there is more about what is happening with him than what meets the eye. Can Even go through all these secrets, and find a way to have her revenge in one way or the other?

The defence of Ballerina :: The movie delivers some more of stylish gun-fu, hand-to-hand combat, and inventive kills that fans have seen in this particular universe. The flamethrower sequence and the quick movements with smart kills in the snow-covered town adds on nicely in the end. All of these rests on Ana de Armas’ shoulders and she goes through the same like a dream which only she is capable of living. It was a tough job to match the Keanu Reeves’ mode, and she has managed the same in her own way. This expansion of the John Wick world was much needed, and we had felt the same after watching the last movie – the mythology itself gets extended so well. The visuals are nothing less than stunning, as we see the same never being less interesting. There is also a certain kind of style which is followed here, and we can never stop appreciating the same. The connection to the other movies of the universe is also really well managed, and even though we watch this as a stand-alone movie, those who watch this together with other movies also have the right elements to make a relation.

Positives and negatives :: One might feel that the villain could have been shown for more time on screen and that the sister bonding needed more than the very few minutes that it had managed. The movie should have also been marketed better, as the box-office could have managed more; maybe it is due to the time of release. But for now, you witness the intensity of the battles and creativity of the fights on Amazon Prime Video where it has found the OTT release. The balance of gunfights and hand-to-hand combat is also something that you will not see this well-executed anywhere else. When we look closer, this has done its duty even better than the original movies of the franchise, as the whole thing is not about the death of a dog anymore, as we get back to being human-centered and on parents being more important. I would be more interested in what Eve can achieve in this world of chaos with a bounty on her head more than John himself, and we can hope that we will know more in a sequel or a combination of sequels connecting this to the original story.

The performers of the soul :: Ana de Armas is an excellent action heroine, and it is something that she has already proven as a Bond girl. Her physical commitment, screen presence and ability to carry the film’s most brutal action sequences while staying on par with Keanu Reeves’ John Wick is worth all the applause. She nicely establishes Eve Macarro as a capable protagonist in her own special way rather than coming up with simply a female version of John Wick. Ever since her debut in Knock Knock, that too with the same actor, Ana surely has come a long way with works like Deep Water making an impact out of nowhere, as she has also been the first Cuban to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Her action here is too good, from that first big action sequence in the pub while defending a target, then that rather funny fight in the kitchen, and that final battle, all getting to the best, while there is no doubt left about the fact that she is a ballerina. The emotions are also reflected really well on her, as she becomes the perfect package here. Keanu Reeves presence also adds to the over quality, while Gabriel Byrne makes a good enough antagonist.

How it finishes :: Ballerina remains a solid action movie and one of Ana de Armas’s strongest performances of any kind till date. The fight scenes with that particular visual style are excellent, and the tale nicely fits into the universe and promises to bring more, especially as the leading lady here feels like having so much to offer. If you have not seen her fighting in a pub, snow-covered buildings, hotel lobbies and more, there is much that you have missed, especially if you have loved watching a lot action on the screen in the past. The one thing I would regret more than others is not watching this one on the big screen, as I saw how good it looked on an android mobile phone with Amazon Prime Video. You might not find a better-looking action movie not on superhero mode, as this kind of mythology is set for group of assassins, and that serves really well. If you have enjoyed the John Wick universe, this one is worth watching for the action alone, and your entry to this extension will be something memorable. The movie could have had a wider release in this part of the world too, as this universe had never ceased being interesting here. For now, you go back to Amazon Prime Video and give it a try.

Release date: 6th June 2025
Running time: 125 minutes
Directed by: Len Wiseman
Starring: Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, Keanu Reeves

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@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Ghost War

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Vampire Owl: Finally, we have ghosts entering the wars of our realm.

Vampire Bat: I do not think that they really meant that here.

Vampire Owl: There is the need for ghosts in our battlefields to make the war more interesting.

Vampire Bat: Do you understand that ghosts need not always be supernatural in life?

Vampire Owl: I would say that they would always have the spirit at all times.

Vampire Bat: If we were in India then, this could have been resolved by watching earlier.

Vampire Owl: Amazon Prime Video in one realm never had faith in another.

Vampire Bat: Well, they call it regions, don’t they?

Vampire Owl: All the same, just like the ghosts all around the world.

Vampire Bat: Ghosts are real, not in one form, but many. Still, the Jack I miss is that of Jack Reacher.

[Gets a tortilla and three cups of bubble tea].

What is the movie about? :: MI6 faces a crisis in UAE, as an MI6 mission to extract intel run by Nigel Cooke (Douglas Hodge) fails when his men are killed by Liam Crown (Max Beesley), a former operative of the same intelligence agency after a series of incidents in Dubai. This lands Nigel in trouble as a senior MI6 officer, with Liam seemingly having some sinister motives which could create an international crisis, but there is no clue about what it could be. Meanwhile, Jack Ryan (John Krasinski), a former United States Marine officer and decorated Afghanistan veteran who has retired as a famed Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) field operative, and is now working in hedge fund risk management at the Wall Street, is approached by his old friend. So, this old friend James Greer (Wendell Pierce), is now working as a CIA Deputy Director under Elizabeth Wright (Betty Gabriel) who has taken charge as the new Director, and is facing a twisted situation, with changes happening at the base levels as much as at the top positions.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: As Jack finds Nigel in Dubai with his friend Mike November (Michael Kelly), the newfound man is shot dead without much time left to talk, and he gets only a cigarette pack from him. Before they could be shot or taken into custody by the local police officers, MI6 officer Emma Marlow (Sienna Miller) takes Jack and Mike to her safehouse. She tells Ryan that Liam was part of Project Starling, a brutal black-ops programme created by James and Nigel after 9/11. It was a group which was allowed to exist in the shadows like ghosts, and take whatever measures required to end terrorist groups. They were not used to asking questions, and had successfully ended many terrorist activities and the groups associated with weaponized indoctrination. But now, they had ceased to exist due to the government growing a conscience and such strong measures no longer accepted. Now, what does the seemingly non-existent organization’s leader want, as chaos keep spreading in the shadows, and deaths continue to happen in cities?

The defence of Jack Ryan: Ghost War :: The movie begins with a premise that we are going to remember for some time, and there is no question about the possibility of fine development with such an idea. The danger which is shown here is real, and there is always the feeling that something sinister could always happen in between. There is no shortage of big car chases and action scenes, making it entertaining as a straightforward spy thriller with some fine visuals of different cities around the world. The beginning and end of the movie in Dubai can be appreciated as the moments catch our attention really well, and we also see more of the same city in the movie. The team here works together, and there is also a fine antagonist to remember, who has a sinister side which is less revealed but contributes to a terrifying future which is less revealed and more in the imagination. The chemistry between the main characters is to be remembered too. The ending will remain interesting for most of the fans, and it leaves an opening for a classic future for this particular franchise as ideas have opportunities here.

The claws of flaw :: Jack Ryan: Ghost War has too much of ups and downs, and it is more visible as the movie gets further near the finish. It never really raises its level and makes it different from the usual kind of movies from similar universes. The predictability factor remains a part of the movie, despite the surprises thrown here and there. It also follows familiar spy-movie formulas and doesn’t offer many surprises – one can safely say that it never really tries, and there is going beyond the usual here. That smartness and innovation which should have been there, is not to be seen, as we see just another tale in the regular format here. This was more or less suited to be part of a television or web series with this kind of progress which has been made. The villain, even though strong, needed more of a presence and appearances, as well as dialogues; the talk never really has much from most of the characters to be that memorable. This often makes us feel the drag in between, even in not that long a movie that we have here.

The performers of the soul :: John Krasinski brings an interesting version of a former intelligence operative to the screen. He remains likable and believable in this particular role, and there is no exaggeration in this particular depiction. From the moment we meet the character, we feel that there is something interesting coming up. Sienna Miller whom we have known in this part of the world for G.I. Joe and American Sniper more than the other movies of her, has a fine action role here too, and it reminds us of Rebecca Ferguson of the Mission Impossible movie series during its later part. Wendell Pierce as James Greer comes up with a solid performance here, and the dilemma of the character is portrayed well by him. Michael Kelly as Mike November has a comparatively smoother and less complicated character that provides a sigh of relief. Douglas Hodge is missed too early, and despite making an impression, Betty Gabriel had a fine entry, and is a likable character too, but is missed too soon. Max Beesley as Liam Crown makes a strong antagonist, even when he is not present on the screen.

How it finishes :: Jack Ryan: Ghost War does lose its power at times, with never really maintaining the same strength at all times. But there is a certain guarantee about this as we keep enjoying the world here. Those who have been following the tale for long in different times will have further opinions about the same, and a rather clearer one. It still never really comes up with those new ideas to make it stand apart among spy movies of same kind. We are often reminded that all spy movies would follow a usual pattern, and there is nothing which can be done to go beyond the same. As far as this movie is concerned, all depends on the viewers and the taste, as this one surely entertains, and how much one keeps up to it shall depend on the audience. As it has released directly to Amazon Prime Video, I would say that there is nothing to be lost in watching this one in parts when time permits. After this movie, the trend might only keep going to bring similar kind of movies, even out of Hollywood.

Release date: 20th May 2026 (Amazon Prime Video)
Running time: 107 minutes
Directed by: Andrew Bernstein
Starring: John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Michael Kelly, Max Beesley, JJ Field, Douglas Hodge, Betty Gabriel, Sienna Miller

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@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Return to Silent Hill

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Vampire Owl: I thought that we had returned to Silent Hill just enough.

Vampire Bat: There is no enough going back to the Silent Hill.

Vampire Owl: Yes, I remember you playing computer games about the same.

Vampire Bat: Yes, both Silent Hill and Resident Evil belonged to the same world.

Vampire Owl: And Mortal Kombat in the same world of Street Fighter.

Vampire Bat: The computer games have kept us alive for a long time.

Vampire Owl: Your Unreal Tournament, Age of Empires, Age of Wonders, Warcraft, Age of Mythology and Disciples journey is known to be legendary.

Vampire Bat: Then there was the later Mass Effect journey which took over like no other.

Vampire Owl: Your gaming journey has been as eternal as your immortality and our borderland wars.

Vampire Bat: Still, Silent Hill is much more than that, for it is the journey to eternal horror like no other, even deeper than Resident Evil.

[Gets a sea salt fries and three cups of Japanese tea].

What is the movie about? :: James Sunderland (Jeremy Irvine) is an artist who is spending a vacation further away from the city, and he comes across Mary Crane (Hannah Emily Anderson) who was leaving her hometown, the small area known as Silent Hill. As he almost causes and accident which leads to Mary missing her bus, she decides to go back to her place and he gives her a ride, after which they fall in love, and the two start living together in Silent Hill. He also meets the strange friends and relatives of Mary, and despite her warning, declares that their love is forever. The scene then shifts to many years later, as James has moved away to the city after breaking the relationship, and has turned into a severe alcoholic, despite continuing to be an artist. One day, despite the warnings of his psychologist, he decides to go after Mary who had written a letter to him to get back to her. He feels that Mary needs to be back in his life one way or the other, and makes his way to the town which seems to be abandoned, and that surprises him more than anything else.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: The town seems to be covered in fog and there is also some falling ash. He also meets a strange woman on the way who seems to be not completely in her senses, and is also attacked by a strange monster. It seems that the day has passed, and soon, after a siren, the town transforms into a twisted version of itself, as it hell itself has unleashed on it, and he is forced to escape to an apartment building where he had lived with Mary. He meets a mentally unstable man named Eddie (Pearse Egan) as he reaches there, and a young girl named Laura (Evie Templeton) who is chased by a terrifying monster known as Pyramid Head (Robert Strange). As they all run away from the monster, James comes up against a strange-shaped naked woman who transforms into another monster, the Spider Lady (Giulia Pelagatti) and chases him, only two be found by the Pyramid Head who beats her up until the creature can no longer stands on its feet.

And what more is to happen here as terror keeps visiting? :: He is only saved by a siren and the night ending, and as he wakes up in the original Silent Hill, he leaves for Brookhaven Hospital where Mary seems to have been taken. He understands that there was some health issue with Mary, and she used to have a bleeding nose. He remembers that Mary was part of a ritual as part of the cult which her father had begun, and the rituals involved a lot of blood. She had also told him that there was something strange about her and her people. He remembers ritual as the one thing which led to them ending their relationship. He understands that Mary has been suffering and there is no escape from her, but he will not leave without her despite the warnings of different people he meets in the strange town. He feels that the town has turned into a portal to hell, but decides to stay. Now, the question remains if any of the two shall remain alive to see outside the terror of the town, as the demonic forces seem determined. This is not one relationship that one would doubt for sincerity, but sinister forces might have other say.

The defence of Return to Silent Hill :: The atmosphere remains the biggest strength of this movie, and it has always remained the same for the franchise. The foggy town which mist providing a world out of ours, ash-filled streets which seem to symbolize something which is to come, continuing classic creature designs and seemingly never-ending nightmare-like imagery makes the movie’s moments a journey to hell and its demons from where escape seems near impossible – it has served the series of adaptations really well till now. From what we know, the movie is also a faithful adaptation of the second game of the series which is sure to satisfy the gamers. The focus on guilt, romance and obsession has the moments which work, even though the deviation from horror can be clearly seen at times. The creature detail remains outstanding, as along with the first monster, the Spider Lady and Pyramid Head got some amazing detail associated with them, and so does the demonic nurses which move on to attack anything and everything. The leading cast also shines.

The claws of flaw :: The movie’s deviation from the supernatural to the psychological could have elevated the whole thing, but here, the loss of the demonic world has only hurt the cinematic strength. The transition between two worlds have lost the strength, and due to this type of approach, the feeling of danger is also lost at times, and with the monsters like Pyramid Head and Spider Lady even fighting each other, there is no spectacle like that flaying of skin of the woman in the graveyard by the former in first movie – that was one classic scene which would define the movie series, but such a situation never really came around here. The emotional and psychological depth is lost at times, and the random scenes from past making way to the nightmarish world as flashbacks bring further struggle here. The past could have come together, and the ending seems to be too ambiguous, and one is left wondering about the purpose of the whole thing as nothing much among the actions of the protagonist seems to have made the difference. The narrative is not managed in a manner which is easy or interesting to follow either.

How it finishes :: Silent Hill has been that game which kept us interested and scared at the same time, as it became the other side of Resident Evil which had the horror action running with a scientific side – mutants there, and demons on the hill. That game had also inspired so many movies as part of a franchise which focused on stylish action with a lady protagonist. It is to be noted that this kind of movies never really get that much of a positive opinion from the critics, but we remember that such movies have always been better than what the reviews say. As the adaptation of the second game of the series, the supernatural elements here were always going to make way for the psychological side, and the reality of terror which was present in the earlier movie adaptations go down the drain. The focus on the romantic side would also keep the horror fans wondering, which makes this film not that kind of a world of chaos for everyone. It has its horror, but the movie will not rise that much within its genre, which makes watching this one a choice according to your interest, but is an entertaining journey for sure.

Release date: 4th February 2026
Running time: 105 minutes
Directed by: Christophe Gans
Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Hannah Emily Anderson, Evie Templeton, Pearse Egan, Nicola Alexis, Robert Strange, Giulia Pelagatti

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Killer Whale

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Vampire Owl: I remember talking to the Vampire Whale last night.

Vampire Bat: There is no Vampire Whale among us. It could only be a fake vampire.

Vampire Owl: Why not? I have already checked the teeth. The fangs are fine.

Vampire Bat: Everyone with fangs is not a vampire, or even a werewolf.

Vampire Owl: So, it was a Demon Whale or a resurrected shadow demon?

Vampire Bat: Couldn’t it have just been a usual creature of the ocean?

Vampire Owl: This could have been better known if Aquaman became a vampire.

Vampire Bat: He could no longer breath underwater if he became a vampire.

Vampire Owl: Oh right! Vampires were never really water resistant.

Vampire Bat: You have never really listened to the study classes, which becomes a problem now.

[Gets a plate of nachos and three cups of Korean tea].

What is the movie about? :: Maddie (Virginia Gardner), an aspiring musician, is very close to making an impact, and also in taking the next step with her long-time crush Chad (Isaac Crawley), as he feels that the happiest moments of her life are just a few days away. But as Chad tries to protect Maddie from a robbery, he is run over by one of the robbers, and she also losses most her hearing ability to the continuous gunshots. This begins a life of melancholy for her, as she stops playing music and keeps to herself at home for most of her time, with no entry for friends into her life. Her best friend Trish Stevens (Mel Jarnson) who is a PhD student studying gene editing and a social media influencer who attracts a huge fan following visits her after a year to make her feel better. She surprises her with a luxury vacation to Thailand in the Andaman Sea, as she uses her influence with her fans of exclusive social media content to find a perfect place where they could have fun and forget the gruesome past, with her own exotic journeys already making an impact.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Trish also finds a new interest in another tourist named Josh (Mitchell Hope), and they together visit a local attraction featuring a captive orca. Disapproving of keeping the creatures in captivity, but finds out that orca had already killed someone who had fallen into its pool. The park management decides to get rid of the orca on the same night by just flushing it into the sea, where it is not known to attack humans. The next morning, the three decide to explore a secluded lagoon which locals consider to be haunted and therefore not explored by curious tourists. But soon, Josh and Trish riding a jet ski are ambushed by the same orca who kills Josh while Trish manages to swim and reach Maddie’s inflatable boat. The two are forced to swim on to a rock and with injuries on their leg, are forced to stay there with nothing other than bikinis on their bodies and a torch. They try to signal to a distance with the torch, but with no result, as time passes. They try to survive against all odds and at the same time share a few secrets with each other, but it remains to be seen about how long they can do the same.

The defence of Killer Whale :: The movie’s premise is more interesting than the usual movies featuring danger from underneath the sea, as the main character is already set, and the possibilities of the orca is also being talked about. There is also a message in support of these mammals to be taken out of captivity to their original habitats. The idea that years of captivity and mistreatment can make animals more of a monster is asserted here, and supported by the protagonist. There is that scene when the two girls are moving in the inflatable boat, and the orca is moving underneath them, as they look in terror. Then there is orca moving around them as they take shelter on a rock surrounded by water. We also have both protagonists swimming in full strength as if their lives depend on their quick movement through water, and those are all tense moments, as much as their search for anything useful. The survival skills are nicely put into test here, and we see them fighting nature’s predator as much as their own emotions, with this becoming another movie of fighting against all odds.

Positives and negatives :: One cannot stop noticing that the whale could have looked better as the creature features and the effects of the sea often looked cheap, seemingly due to a low budget, but that does not make us feel the danger to be that far away or of lesser strength. People can feel that this is another shark movie, and just ended quickly without adding some extra strength, but considering the fact that this is film of different dimensions, the same can indeed be forgotten. The movie also has us sympathetic to the whale, and makes us wonder about what humans to do to each other as much as to the creatures of nature. There are multiple shots of the main characters surrounded by the orca from above and underneath, all of them making one feel the danger of the situation. The camera shots also keep us close to the characters, and we also go through that journey with them with what they see as much as what the creature see of them from underneath the sea. Then there are some beautiful shots of their world in the end at sea and out of it, which facilitates an ending that looks well.

The performers of the soul :: The movie focus on two characters, played by Virginia Gardner as Maddie and Mel Jarnson as Trish Stevens, with others and their performances being less relevant, even though we would remember Isaac Crawley and Mitchell Hope more than others. The movie perfectly moves towards a female-sisterhood-survival movie in that manner. Virginia comes up with a charming and emotional work, as we see her character move through emotions, from that romantic happy beginning to chaos, while she tries to survive. Mel Jarnson also handles the emotions incredibly well, with guilt and attempt for hope gaining on her. She remains stunning out there as she was perfect in Witchboard, but this time having an influencer and social media powerhouse running right through her character. This is where beauty comes also with performances, and the two on the rock is a sight to behold not just with those looks, but also with the emotional performances. There is no artificiality here, as they strive through their characters’ toughest times for survival as much feelings.

How it finishes :: If you have watched The Shallows and 47 Meters Down, this can be felt as a repetition, but this one also has that emotional side, and the weight of the past, which makes the world of two best friends different around here. In between, there are some beautiful moments, as the emotions surely have more than one side. If you like creature thrillers with a touch of deviation, but never losing the survival mode, this would be entertaining. If you are expecting a big budget classic with realistic orca behaviour with terrifying high budget world on the level of grand shark attacks, this might lag behind at times. The movie is available of Lionsgate Play which would come as an addition with the usual Airtel unlimited recharges, and therefore is an easy watch, in the form of a never-boring survival adventure with hidden human emotions that power through, while compassion, remorse, guilt and forgiveness remains themes to look out for, even though not always coming to the front in a direct manner. You know if you like the survival mode, like in Survive, Oxygen, Meander, Nowhere, Crawl etc.

Release date: 6th March 2026
Running time: 89 minutes
Directed by: Jo-Anne Brechin
Starring: Virginia Gardner, Mel Jarnson, Mitchell Hope, Isaac Crawley, Ron Smuck, Aliandra Calabrese, Mia Grunwalkd, Shinji Ikefuji, Scott James

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Vash 2

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Vampire Owl: This would feel like a strange way to watch a sequel.

Vampire Bat: We are watching the second part of a Gujarati film which we watched in Hindi.

Vampire Owl: It would not have been too strange if the story was not somewhat changed.

Vampire Bat: Well, it seems that Bollywood takes liberties with everything except Drishyam.

Vampire Owl: Bollywood should have wanted the same in that case too, but not allowed.

Vampire Bat: Bollywood just takes out of the best out of its essence multiple times.

Vampire Owl: Thanks to the OTTs, we still have other choices.

Vampire Bat: The choices that we make never really matter.

Vampire Owl: It matters for us.

Vampire Bat: Just what matters for immortal matters.

[Gets a pina colada and three cups of sweet tea].

What is the movie about? :: Atharva (Hitu Kanodia) has gone past the terrifying incidents which he had to face under the influence of a man practicing black magic, but the feeling never really leaves him as his daughter Aarya (Janki Bodiwala) still remains under a dark influence – even after twelve years, goes on with her life with a smile on her face, as she grows up and her body changes, but nothing else does. As she does nothing else than that particular smile, this would be more or less like a paralysis. It keeps reminding him of that supernatural grip which remains even after he had imprisoned and tortured the man responsible for her state. He hopes for a better situation and continues to care for her, but knows that future is bleak. It is during the same time that ten schoolgirls jump from the top of a school together, despite the pleas of the headmistress, teachers and security, telling them that an uncle told them to do so, and they have no option but to obey his orders without questioning.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: This leaves the headmistress Rashmika (Monal Gajjar) scarred, while parents of all students including the remaining ones as well as the police storm into the school compound while it becomes nation-wide news. But very soon, more chaos unleashes as the girls ask for one man to be found, and warns that there would be some bigger terror to be unleashed. Soon, several other girls who had food in the same canteen behave violently and manages to break out of the school campus, attacking strangers including children, destroying property, and setting vehicles and buildings on fire. Stopping the girls seem to bring more trouble as they keep attacking everyone and also themselves if restricted. Some of the parents manage to come in and try to take their children home, but the girls are not ready to leave with them, and ask for the particular man to be found before next wave of evil is unleashed. The police have no clue about what is happening, as things seem to be outside their payroll, and some of them also gets injured in the process.

And what more is to follow here as evil keeps finding its way of nowhere? :: Atharva who finds out about the situation from news, gets to the school, and declares him to be the one who has the man whom they search and can solve this particular problem. These strange incidents are revealed to be the result of certain mind control charm orchestrated by Rajnath (Hiten Kumar), the younger brother of the black magician whom Atharva had captured. Unlike his imprisoned brother, Rajnath is more after control and seeks to establish his own power through chaos that nobody can ever imagine. He considers his brother to be better than him, as he lacks one special spell which could lead to his way towards world domination. He seeks to find his brother and learn it from him, making him complete. Atharva finds the man in the canteen, as he had hidden himself before pretending to be a worried parent of one of the girls and coming straight to view. Now, the question remains if Atharva can end this evil once and all, and whether his own daughter can finally get better.

The defence of Vash Level 2 :: This is one movie that gains momentum early itself, and that scene of jumping from the top of school is further complemented by similar scenes, as this one feels more zombie-like, and with the realization that evil never ends even if goodness has a limit. The performances of Hitu Kanodia and Hiten Kumar are very much convincing, and we can see that they never really try to overdo this either, as the work is stable and even in a fantasy situation, there are enough realistic moments to keep a balance. The clash between morality and selfishness can also be seen in between. If you have enjoyed Stree, Munjya, Thamma and other folk-tale horror, you would want to keep the eyes for the full-horror experience here, as the local mode of fear also has its say in a world of The Conjuring and its unlimited membership camapign in horror. After all, black magic and witchcraft go a long way back here too, and there has been more terrifying tales ready to inspire horror-makers as long as one would feel the need for the same.

Positives and negatives :: The movie can be considered to be moving smoothly towards that classic ending, and it also leaves the viewers with the relief that evil has been nicely vanquished, and even without that grand a spectacle, there is a fine resolution that we are going to remember. There is no loss of strength for this movie in between either, and the pace is maintained well. Janki Bodiwala is restricted to a nothing role, and that is depressing because she was the strongest point of the franchise, and most people would have the same opinion about her work. Her place on the posters would make one feel like she would have a big role to play, but that never really happens here. If a comparison to the earlier movie is made, I would have to say that this one does not manage to come up with that much of a strength. The movie could have had that knock-out experience which could make it the sequel that thrives on the first; maybe the Bollywood version would have too much of it, but we would have to wait for the same. After all, mind control has no limits.

How it finishes :: Most of us have only watched the Bollywood version, Shaitaan, which was not this much dark in comparison, and we are quickly made to realize that the proceedings and ending of that particular movie was different from the Gujarati original. The movie beginning without that Bollywood overdose of things itself is a reminder of the same – we all remember how Drishyam’s Hindi versions whether original or sequel could not survive without some extra unnecessary additions or changes here and there, even though they were small and not relevant. Well, this movie had gained its power right at the beginning itself, and its remake would also have the same, as there would be a number of changes that need to be there with the Hindi edition, whenever it comes. With that movie’s ending, one can be sure that Janki Bodiwala will get a better role to play around there as the main characters had a rather positive finish with the Bollywood trying to keep its world as usual and appealing to its common audience. This movie is a fine sequel, and leaves us with hope about it too.

Release date: 27th August 2025
Running time: 103 minutes
Directed by: Krishnadev Tagnik
Starring: Janki Bodiwala, Hitu Kanodia, Hiten Kumar, Monal Gajjar

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✠ The Vampire Bat.