Release Date : July 26, 2024
123telugu.com Rating : 1.75/5
Starring : Avika Gor, Vardhaan Puri, Jeniffer Piccinato, Rahul Dev, and others
Director : Vikram Bhatt
Producers : Rakesh Juneja, Shwetambari Bhatt, Dr. Raj Kishor Khaware, and Krishna Bhatt Sarda
Music Directors: Shamir Tandon, Prateek Walia, and Nirmal Pandey (background score)
Cinematographer: Naren A. Gedia
Editor: Kuldip Mehan
Related Links : Trailer
Avika Gor’s horror thriller Bloody Ishq is now streaming on Disney Plus Hotstar, bypassing theaters. Check out our review of the Vikram Bhatt directorial to see if it delivered the chills it promised.
Story:
After an accident erases Neha’s (Avika Gor) memories, her caring husband, Romesh (Vardhan Puri), brings her to a lavish estate on a secluded island off the coast of Scotland. Neha senses a disturbing presence in the house and starts to believe it’s haunted, but Romesh brushes off her fears. As Neha’s suspicions grow, she begins to think Romesh is hiding something. How is Ayesha (Jeniffer Piccinato) related to the story, and what secrets does she hold? Is Neha’s memory loss a deception? Is the house truly haunted, or is something more sinister at play? Unveil the truths by diving into this tale.
Plus Points:
Avika Gor’s growing interest in horror thrillers is evident, as she takes on another role in this genre with Bloody Ishq. She delivers an adequate performance with decent expressions.
Vardhaan Puri supports Avila reasonably well, particularly in scenes related to Avika’s past and her suspicions about the house.
Jeniffer Piccinato, though her role is small, performs competently. Rahul Dev’s cameo appearance is just passable.
Minus Points:
The primary issue with this horror thriller lies in the chosen elements rather than the story itself. Effective horror requires creating fear and tension, which this film fails to do, surprisingly, considering it comes from Vikram Bhatt.
The horror elements are sparse and ineffective, often resulting in unintended laughter due to poor CGI and a weak screenplay. Even the climax fails to deliver genuine scares, making it unlikely to frighten even children.
The attempt to provide thrills and chills falls flat due to the slow pacing and lack of an engaging narrative. By the time these moments arrive, the audience is already disengaged.
The film is predictable and tedious, with a runtime of over two hours and fifteen minutes, making it difficult to stay engaged.
Avika Gor might need to reconsider her choice of roles, moving beyond horror thrillers to find stories that better showcase her talents.
Technical Aspects:
This film is not one of Vikram Bhatt’s better works and may be considered one of his weakest. The script by Mahesh Bhatt and Suhrita Das is poorly written. The decision to release the film directly on OTT platforms rather than in theaters is understandable.
The cinematography, music, editing, and CGI are all subpar, contributing to the film’s overall failure. The dialogues by Shwetha Bothra fail to create any intrigue, and the three songs included in the film do little to enhance the viewing experience.
Verdict:
On the whole, Bloody Ishq is a disappointing entry in the horror-thriller genre. The film lacks thrilling moments and genuine scares, making it difficult to find any redeeming qualities in the poorly written story. While the performances are adequate, the film is technically weak and difficult to watch in one sitting. Anyone, including horror thriller fans, can skip it without a second thought.
123telugu.com Rating: 1.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team