#Cult movie review: Vishwak Sen’s slasher thriller is ambitious but lacks finesse

If the growing spate of high-octane, ultra-violent spectacles flooding theatres repulses you, Vishwak Sen’s third directorial, #Cult, cranks up the action quotient even further. Throats are slit, carcasses are flung across rooms, and body parts are dismantled as though they were elements of a toy.

Yet, none of it feels particularly vulgar. Storytelling, it is said, hinges on intriguing characters being thrust into an unusual situation. #Cult brings together a few good-for-nothings: a politician’s spoilt brat and a maverick cop at a high-stakes rave party, pitting them against a vicious crew of assassins through a series of deadly challenges.

The film itself acknowledges the parallel with Squid Game. The first half offers character sketches, setting the tone for the ensuing chaos. The actor-director explores a smart meta touch: three aspiring filmmakers — Siddhu, Rummy and Thomas — are tasked by a producer (KV Anudeep) with penning a brutally violent script.

“Raktam chindaali… kaani mazaa raavali,” he demands. There must be bloodshed, but it has to be fun. There is considerable resistance to Elvin (Tarak Ponnappa) hosting his birthday bash, not least from his home minister father (Murali Sharma), who has his eyes firmly set on the Chief Minister’s chair.

While the trio of friends miraculously secure passes to the party, they become the butt of ridicule among the elitist attendees, embarrassing themselves at every turn. Things soon spiral out of control when a monstrous army seals all the exit gates, trapping the attendees in a sinister game with no way out.

Minutes before the interval, the film introduces an unlikely saviour in the form of maverick cop Sankalp Nayak (Vishwak Sen). As the story progresses, there is more to the onslaught than meets the eye. While the setup is out of the box and the film trims away some of the excesses associated with several larger-than-life star vehicles, such as excessive melodrama and an exaggerated sense of importance, the writing still falters to an extent.

There is a lot of chaos in the early stages of the rave party (unless it is intentional), and the quirks of this motley crew of characters, along with their interactions, struggle to hold attention. There is repeated emphasis on Elvin’s spoilt-brat ways and personality traits.

The track between him and his girlfriend Maya also struggles to land. The dark humour involving the cops and politicians, even as tensions mount at the party, is not built upon effectively. Across the board, the characters that range from a powerless subordinate to a corrupt politician, his pampered son, a damsel-in-distress girlfriend and a maverick cop, feel derived from familiar templates.

The film’s world is shorn of novelty and built around well-worn tropes. Ravi Basrur’s background score repeatedly insists on making its presence felt, while the flabby screenplay is exhausting. Even with Sankalp’s arrival and the retaliation in the second half, the narrative never gathers momentum.

The action choreography aims to be flashy and colourful, but falls short of being imaginative. The film is at its sharpest during the subplot involving the mental asylum. Every time the story is expected to push a few boundaries, it settles for something convenient.

Every action of the antagonist has to be tied to a reason. While the social stigma that #Cult attempts to address is appreciable, it would have been more compelling to see a baddie who is a rebel without a cause. Instead, the film frames his motivation as mere vengeance.

Despite some of its conventional choices, #Cult is at its most effective in the last 40-45 minutes, when the narrative engages both technically and emotionally. However, it conveniently sidelines its three underdog protagonists and shifts the focus to Sankalp, denying the trio the closure they deserved.

Vishwak Sen, as someone who is unafraid to tread unfamiliar territory, has all the trappings of a filmmaker with a new voice. However, he could translate his ideas with a much stronger impact if backed by a better technical team and sharper writing.

The actor in him is back in fine form. The young trio of friends, played by Karthikeya, Anirudh Bhaskar and Ezy, share an easy male camaraderie. Vivek Chepuri makes a mark in a substantial role. Tarak Ponnappa’s loud, in-your-face villainy, however, tests patience.

The other experienced hands, including Srikanth Iyengar and Murali Sharma, seem to sleepwalk through their roles. Gayatri Bhardwaj is not given anything significant to work with. Tharun Bhascker’s dialogues are replete with situational humour, though they lack the spunk of his other outings.

Cinematographer Aravind Viswanathan, returning to Telugu cinema after Harom Hara, impresses while navigating the challenges of a film largely set in a single location. The editing, however, is clearly a limiting factor, preventing the film from becoming the slick actioner it aspires to be.

#Cult is not short on ambition, but it could have been a lot more with better writing and sharper execution.