Actors: Rakul Preet Singh, Vishwak Sen, Nivetha Pethuraj, Megha Akash, Reba Monica John, Vidyullekha Raman, Manjima Mohan, Aayira, etc.
Director: AL. Vijay
Producers: Jyoti Deshpande, Ramanjaneyulu Javvaji, and M Raja
Rakul Preet Singh’s horror entertainer “BOO,” directed by AL. Vijay, started streaming on Jio Cinema on May 27, 2023. With the presence of Vishwak Sen, the interest levels among the audience were heightened. However, let’s delve into what thrills “BOO” offered to the viewers.
Story:
“BOO” revolves around four girls who come together for a Halloween party and subsequently experience eerie occurrences. Kiara (Rakul Preet Singh) hosts the party and invites her friends Rithu, Aruna, and Kavya (Reba Monica John, Vidyullekha Raman, Manjima Mohan). As the party progresses, a power failure leads them to explore a horror book that must be completed without interruption. Kiara reveals that even the book’s author died after reading it. The story unfolds to reveal the connection between these events and journalist Malavika (Nivetha Pethuraj), Akash, and paranormal scientist Meera (Megha Akash).
Artists’ Performances:
The performances in “BOO” don’t offer much to discuss. While all the actors are well-known and their presence generated initial interest, they merely go through the motions. Their roles mostly involve screaming, shrieking, and portraying fear. Rakul Preet Singh, Vishwak Sen, Nivetha Pethuraj, Megha Akash, Reba Monica John, Vidyullekha Raman, Manjima Mohan, and Aayira deliver their scenes with precision. However, Vishwak Sen, Nivetha Pethuraj, and Megha Akash have limited roles. If the acting fails to inspire confidence, it can be attributed to the director rather than the star cast.
Technical Aspects:
The story of “BOO,” written by AL. Vijay, offers nothing new. It attempts to present a horror thriller, but the narrative feels mediocre and outdated. The concept of people getting stranded in a house and experiencing strange events has been explored extensively on screen. It resembles a poor imitation of similar stories seen in films like Ram Gopal Varma’s “Darna Mana Hai” from 2000.
The film’s narration starts off slow and silly, with unnecessary time spent on a song. The chapters in the horror book, including Hiccups, Lonely House, Soul Trapper, Uninvited Guest, and Haunted House, fail to evoke the intended thrills and often come across as unintentionally comedic. The overall quality of the product leaves much to be desired.
Regarding technical aspects, Sandeep K Vijay’s cinematography offers nothing noteworthy, lacking engaging camera angles. GV. Prakash Kumar’s music falls short of expectations, with average background score attempts to enhance the scenes. The editing is passable, while the dialogues are often silly. The production values are decent but don’t stand out.
Advantages:
Partially engaging climax
Strong casting
Disadvantages:
Illogical scenes
Weak screenplay
Verdict:
In conclusion, “BOO” disappoints as a horror thriller. Despite its promising star cast, the film falters due to its weak script, laughable screenplay, and subpar direction. It fails to deliver genuine scares or engage the audience with its predictable and unoriginal plot. It is regrettable to see talented actors wasted in this lackluster project. Viewers may be left questioning the decision-making behind the film’s production and distribution.