1920: Horrors of the Heart
Director: Krishna Bhatt
Writers: Mahesh BhattShweta BothraSuhrita Das
Stars: Rupam BagAmit BehlBarkha Bisht
1920: Horrors of the Heart Review
Review: It's astonishing how much has changed in recent years, yet Vikram Bhatt's approach to creating horror films remains trapped in a time warp. Now, he has passed the baton to his daughter, Krishna Bhatt, but the element of novelty and genuine scare is still missing. Secluded mansions, creaking doors, mirrors, and candles have become tired and predictable tropes. It's high time for filmmakers to think outside the box and infuse horror films with fresh ideas. 1920: Horrors of the Heart is clichéd, with a ridiculous plot that fails to engage viewers. The liberties taken and incorporated into the story are more exasperating than amusing. If only the writers had put more effort into creating genuine moments of fear, the film might have passed muster.
The story revolves around Meghna (Avika Gor), who plans to reveal her love affair to her father on her 21st birthday. However, when she arrives home to share the news, she is devastated to discover her father's lifeless body hanging from the ceiling. Overwhelmed by grief, she embarks on a quest for answers and uncovers a diary in her father's drawer. The diary reveals the heartbreaking circumstances that led her father, driven by poverty and her mother's desire for a lavish lifestyle, to take his own life. Fuelled by anger, Meghna decides to reside with her mother, Radhika (Barkha Bisht), and her stepfather, Shantanu (Rahul Dev), using the excuse of having no place to live. Slowly, she paves the way for her father's spirit to enter the house. As the spirit takes hold of the home, eerie occurrences begin, forcing Meghna to confront the chilling truth that lies beneath the surface.
The film finds some redemption in the performances of Avika Gor and Barkha Bisht, who bring a certain level of grace to the screen. While their portrayals are decent, they don't reach extraordinary heights. Danish Pandor, portraying Meghna's boyfriend Arjun, and Rahul Dev as Shantanu deliver plastic-coated performances. Debutante director Krishna Bhatt had an intriguing story penned by Mahesh Bhatt and Suhrita Das at her disposal, but regrettably, she mishandled the plot completely. The final twenty minutes of the film elicit more laughter than fear, leaving the horror quotient severely lacking.
One notable characteristic of films produced by Vikram Bhatt is their exceptional music, but this horror drama fails to impress in that aspect as well. The VFX effects come across as juvenile, raising questions about how a film can possess such subpar visuals in this day and age. 1920: Horrors of the Heart serves as an incubation center for Vikram Bhatt's daughter, but unfortunately, she fails to seize this opportunity. The film falls far short of its intended goal of delivering genuine scares.
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