original Hindi title: MALLIKA [Jasmin]
also known as BEAUTY AND FEAR
director: Wilson
Louis
starring: Anjum Nayar (as Sheena Nayyar) · Sammir Dattani · Mamik Singh
· Suresh Menon
Tormented
by nightmares, a woman experiences more horror when she goes to relax
at a resort. Specifically, Sanjana is unable to sleep and suffers from
realistic, recurring nightmares of a woman being murdered. She decides
to take a vacation - to get away from her environment for a while -
and heads out to Fort Khejarta in rural Jodhpur. On the way, her car
breaks down but Sanjana is rescued by an environmental researcher named
Saahil. Upon arrival at the resort, she happily surprised by the few
people staying there, seemingly because of the off-season. There is
only photographer Maddy, Simmi a model, resort manager Chandar and caretakers,
Vikram and his wife, Maya. She soon becomes irritated with Simmi, especially
after the model takes photos of her without asking permission. Then
frequent power outages put Sanjana on edge, followed by continuation
of the same frightening nightmare. But that's only the beginning as
Sanjana starts seeing a ghost that resembles her and people around her
get mysteriously killed.
Here
is a film,
remarkably similar to another Hindi movie HOME
STAY, with the exception that it does not reveal anything [no
explanation, no back story - in fact - no logic] to the viewer until
the final 15 minutes. Prior to that point, this can be a very frustrating
ride, not unlike a very disturbing, lingering dream. But, incidentally,
there are some spectacular special effects along the way from filmmaker
Wilson Louis, best known for his FX work in projects like 6-5=2.
An Indian/Hindi
film with optional ON/OFF English subtitles; widescreen format,
uncut (105 minutes), DVD encoded for ALL REGION NTSC WORLD FORMAT
Sexual
Situations/Graphic Violence
For Mature Audiences
