Alone has a good premise to it - Conjoined twins turning out to be a hero and a villain apiece. With Bipasha Basu, a master in horror genre, playing both roles, the field is set for director Bhushan Patel to play around. He does spin around this tale while riding on tons of clichs. However, even though the first half sees a lot of repetitive scenes, it is the second half that does the trick, especially in the pre-climax.
Trouble in the lives of married couple Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover is established right at the beginning of the film and you very well sense that there is an element of 'raaz' that former is seemingly carrying. In fact one does wonder if the film could well have been pitched for Raaz 4! Nevertheless one goes with the flow as disturbances start haunting Bipasha in a bungalow that is located in a Godforsaken land, ironically in God's own abode - Kerala.
While this lends an interesting beginning to the plot, incidentally it becomes way too repetitive in 30-40 minutes that follow. There are countless number of scenes set in the bedroom when there are haunting moments between Bipasha and the ghost. In fact so many of them that one stops counting after a while. Thankfully, Bhushan does place a few jolts here and there which makes for some thrilling moments indeed. Oh yes, as for the eventual twist in the tale during the climax, one can pretty much see it coming during the first half itself.
Nonetheless, the movie actually begins at the interval point where a surprise awaits the audience. While the pace increases, Bipasha too gets into the Jism mode, hence coming up with quite a few high proximity encounters with Karan. Though they are not steamy per se and erotica quotient is missing too, they are eye candy for sure, hence keeping the target audience satisfied.
Meanwhile, the narrative continues to gather pace and once housemaid Sulbha Arya begins the prayers, the film begins to peak with the best reserved for the sequence when a tantrik is called home. Oh yes, it is all Vikram Bhatt in the way the stage is set and the events unfold, what with set design, lighting as well as background score being from his school of generating fear. However, considering the fact that Bhushan has worked with Vikram for years, it is understandable.
One does feel though that the climax could have seen a better scripting instead of a routine outhouse/warehouse setting. In fact it also reminds one of Raaz 3. Also, the clich of aatma entering Zakir Hussain's (playing a spiritual healer) body hardly surprises. However, considering the fact that Alone has been made as a formula affair, guess this is what comes with the territory.
As for the performances, Bipasha is in good form and it is amazing to see how she manages to do so many horror/super natural films and yet seem so convinced about enacting a tormented character. Karan is decent and at places his dialogue delivery and voice seem similar to that of Hrithik Roshan. He does better than most first time actors. Music is good but every song just increases the length of the film. Alone could have been better off as a song less affair.
Having said that, the film has been designed in a certain budget for a set target audience and this is where the songs play a major roll in pulling them in. That coupled with Bipasha's presence, unique storyline, some good jolts and a very good pre-climax should do the trick for Alone.
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