1920 The evil Returns :-Review - Page 2

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  Vikram Bhatt entered the Hindi Film Industry with the Rahul Roy – Pooja Bhatt Starrer 'Janaam', but after his initial struggle with some weak films he found his niche in thrillers and horror films with back to back hits like 'Kasoor', 'Fareb' & 'Raaz'. Also he got his most popular film 'Ghulam' to his credit, but again he ventured into other genres including comedy and romantic drama. Sadly none of these clicked and he returned back to his forte with '1920' and thus started 'Vikram Bhatt' style of Horror films followed by 'Fear', 'Shaapit', Haunted' and 'Raaz3'. '1920' was not path breaking cinema, but people found something different in it as compared to other horror films in contemporary times. The periodic settings and music helped it to succeed at the box office. In times, when making a sequels has become a fashion in the industry, Vikram and his gang brings to us a sequel to '1920' with totally different team and a new director. Let's find out whether '1920-Evil Returns' is a sequel to '1920' or is just trying to bank on the success of its Prequel along with the factor that will it add to hit list of 'Vikram Bhatt' horror films.
  
  '1920-Evil Returns' is story of Smruti (Tia Bajpai) who loses her memory and lands up in house of a poet, Jaidev (Aftab Shivdasani) who lives with his sister Karuna (Vidya Malvade). Jaidev starts bonding with Smruti, but Karuna smells something fishy and wants her brother to maintain a distance. Things start to unfold slowly and Jaidev comes to know the dark secret which lies beneath Smruti's past. What happens next is what the entire film is about.
  
  The Story has some shades of Vikram Bhatt's 'Haunted' but here the basic plot line is twisted very well. The whole mystery angle is handled in a brilliant manner. The writers have tried to do something different rather than succumbing to usual run of the mill type horror films. But when you talk of a Horror film, you need scary moments or at least some minor chills to keep you scared or at least connected to the film. Sadly out here except few scenes like the Hospital part or The Painting in the hotel there is not even a single scary moment in the film. The horror part looked unintentionally comic as the possessed person has either white eyes or red eyes, keeps vomiting white liquid or nails, Keeps jumping around the house like a frog, Eating human flesh with some weird and funny expressions, the whole hide and seek is followed by unnecessary comical laughter and many more silly moments. All these moments contribute highly as negative points in the film. Camera work is good, and the outdoor locations are refreshing. Editing is fine, but the repetitive scenes of ghost playing hide and seek could've been shortened.
  
  Chiratan Bhatt tried very hard to bring some melodious tunes that we loved in Vikram Bhatt's films. But Ishq Mein, Tum Bhi, Janu Na are pretty average and sound similar. 'Eh Khuda' is the only song which is total winner and one will remember for long time. Background music is far better than all other recent horror films background music.
  
  Debutant Director Bhushan Patel tries to narrate the horror tale with a coating of romantic track in very different manner. He succeeds when it comes to drama, but fails pretty high on the horror part along with the pathetic make ups. All the get ups of people possessed were horrible and in comparison to these, the Ramsay ghosts might look bit scary as all these looked very funny. You do not need your possessed person to walk upside down in the house or when they get possessed the color of their eyes to change, color gets changed, etc to scare people. This can be done even without such gimmicks and make ups with help of good performances and expertise in direction.
  
  Aftab comes back in lead role after a long time and has done a pretty decent job as he is mostly quiet in the film, wonder what would have happened if he had more of dialogues Tia Bajpai looks simple and starts well but once she gets possessed her performance looked fake and forced. She tries very hard to make an impact, but ends up being hilarious . Vidya Malavde has been wasted in the film. Sharad reminds you of Arif Zakaria from Haunted, but does a decent part. Rest all are not worth mentioning.
  
  So bol meri 'Filmi Khopdi' iss film mein kitna hain Dum ?
  
  Dum hain only when it comes to the plot line of the film, besides that it's just a piece of crap. There are some people who love to watch Horror films as comedy films; out here they will be highly satisfied. Thanks to gory make ups, weird antics and crazy logics this movie fails to create even 1% of impact when it comes to horror films. Sometimes I wish we would have been born in 1920, at least we would've been spared to see such films.

• Film : 1920: Evil returns
• Producer : Husnain
• Director : Bhushan Patel
• Star Cast : Aftab Shivdasani, Tia Bajpai, Sagar Saikia, Vidya Malvade...
• Music Director : Chirantan Bhatt
• Rating :
  2.5

Other Ratings

Average Movie Rating

2.5

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Story

Smruti (Tia Bajpai) has no sense of logic and refuses to accept what is logical trapped and tormented by an evil spirit residing inher house. A servant comes to the rescue helps her with a holy mirror which would help her escape from her house while she meets Jaidev (Aftab Shivdasani), a complete stranger with whom she falls in love.

The evil spirit now devours on her memories and leaves her almost dead. Meanwhile, Jaidev neck deep in love with Smruthi is convinced that she is dead as she doesn't return and becomes the dipsomaniac Devdas minus the dog. His poetic skills bring him to the banks of a river where he finds his love, literally. Smruti lays on the riverbank in an unconscious state but he does't recognize her not can Smruti recollect who the person is. She loses memory of everything.

Jaidev's sister doesn't have good feelings about Smruti and his sister's feelings towards her worsen when a cemetery keeper warns her of a demonic soul in Smruti.

Horror in the movie now is at its peaks as Smruti starts puking iron nails and hallucinates about ghosts. Demonic possessions begin as she is being taken to a doctor and Jaidev has no options but to believe the cemetery keeper.

Who is the evil spirit? What does it aim to achieve and would the duo recognize each other later? There are more secrets the movie holds but are best narrated on screen.

Analysis :

Story writers Vikram Bhatt and Amin Hajee have made an interesting story allowing the users ample time to connect from the first half of the film to the events of second half. Though there are ingenious parts of the movie like the bangle mystery or the love letters, they were not coupled with the scare factor. First half of the movie ends up boring with the poor direction, shadows and eyeball scare tactics are overused to the point of being battered. For those of you who haven't seen scenes from Exorcist, there are a few scary scenes that may impress you but if you have you will not stop cursing the shameless rip off.

Poetic skills of Jaidev are exceptional but misplaced. You don't want to listen to a poem while you are being spooked, do you? Dialogues are just fine.

Bhushan Patel hasn't taken the job seriously and that is evident with the half-boiled script. He should know better that the red eyes, lack of eyes and other similar techniques have developed tolerance in audience. New horror flicks should bring in new techniques rather than reuse and kill the joy of a scare tactic that audience are familiar with.

That being said, second half is impressive. A few hair raising scenes that make your spine go cold. Songs are a nice touch to the not very impressive first half with good lyrics prompting you to forgive the mistakes. Cinematography from Naren Kedia leaves you expecting especially after you came here expecting something like 1920. Amar Mohile's BGM is terrible to the point of being a headache. Special effects receive mixed scores, great at times and the opposite in other scenes.

Performance :

Aftab has failed as Jaidev and chronic alcoholism is no excuse for lack of expression. Vacant looks and lack of dedication (or skill) make him a eye-sore. Overly sweet, or rather cloyingly, when she does the positive role Bajpai has impressed as the possessed one. Vidya Malvade should learn to act before she tries again since audience are paying to watch. Sharad Kellar is perfect for the hateful character he dons.

Final Word: 1920 Evil Returns but without a sound plot or direction. A few decent scenes worth watching only if you have a craving for a horror movie or if you have been living under a rock.