An interesting horror thriller that couldn’t get it right in the finale –

418 Review Movie Talkies:

The latest Telugu-Kannada horror thriller, 418, is a deceptive horror flick when it comes to its title. The title suggests something related to room number 418 in a medical college, but the flashback reveals something entirely different. It’s a good idea in itself, but the problem lies in the writing, which fails to deliver a proper finale. The way the film shifts its genre in the second half is genuinely interesting and sets up an intriguing premise. Just when you expect it to end on a thrilling note, it fails to push the envelope and ultimately sums up as an average watch.

418 Story:

The film begins with Vivek arriving at a medical college and getting room number 417 in the boys’ hostel. Women are strictly prohibited from entering the hostel, not simply because it’s a boys’ hostel, but because a supernatural power residing in room number 418 becomes active whenever a woman or a girl enters the premises. Vivek senses something supernatural and tries to dig into the past to uncover the secret behind room number 418. Saisha, a London-returned girl, is about to enter the premises, and that’s when Vivek learns about the past of Devika, the unholy entity locked inside room 418. Will they be able to stop Devika before it’s too late?

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In the first half, 418 works more like a psychological horror thriller set on a college campus, giving you the feeling of watching yet another horror flick revolving around a college girl’s suicide from the past. I mean, that’s all we have been seeing over the years. But no, the flashback story of Devika turns out to be something else entirely. It’s got to do with evil powers, sacrifices made to appease that entity, and how it takes over a simple woman whose only basic wish is to have a baby. That portion is mystical and intriguing, keeping you hooked to the screen.

418 The Film Review:

However, the climax disappoints. Also, I don’t understand this crappy obsession some writers have with portraying evil powers as being greater than our Gods. Devika couldn’t have a child despite worshipping so many Hindu Gods, but she gets pregnant when she turns her faith towards dark powers. We shouldn’t really endorse such blasphemous stuff in our cinema, and that’s strictly my personal opinion.

418 Cast:

Chaithra J Achar may not be in the lead role, but she gets a superb character to play and does full justice to it. Ramesh Indira, Suraj Raj Veerabathini, Charan Lakkaraju, Shashank Patil, Preethi Pagadala, Kota Jataram, Shree Vaishnav, Shrikanth Ganesh, and others are all fine in their respective parts. The cinematography is strictly okay, while the colour grading is bad. The film remains too dark for most of its runtime, which affects the overall viewing experience. It’s so troublesome for the eyes. The background music, especially during the jump scares, works well, and the production design is considerably good for a film made on such a small budget.

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418 Movie Review:

The writers could have done much better here and deserve a fair share of the blame for the film’s underwhelming impact. The Yakshagana angle was so interesting, but the makers failed to utilise its true potential in the climax. Having the power of a deity, or some connection to it, play a role in stopping the evil would have felt much more satisfying. Kirtan Nadagouda fails to recognise the story’s true potential and sticks to a narrow vision, ultimately turning what could have been an effective horror thriller into a mediocre watch. Overall, 418 has some genuinely interesting moments and an intriguing setup, but it fails to build a tall tower on that solid foundation.

RATING – 2.5/5*

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